TSA mission: In one ear, out the other

Its mission: “Protect the nation’s transportation systems.”

And its vision: “An agile security agency, embodied by a professional workforce, that engages its partners and the American people to outmatch a dynamic threat.”

If only that were accurate.

Dangerously, however, it’s the furthest thing from reality, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) continues its streak of hypocrisy and ineffectiveness. The TSA is making headlines because many of its employees are calling out “sick” due to the government shutdown, causing travel headaches for millions. Some airport terminals are even closed due to understaffing.

It is intuitive to think that flight security is being compromised due to the selfishness of TSA employees, but that isn’t necessarily true.

Who needs security breaches at “understaffed” checkpoints when the TSA commits egregious mistakes while at full capacity?

Just last week, a woman flew from Atlanta to Tokyo with a gun in her carry-on. Yet the only reason the TSA knows about it is because the passenger alerted authorities. It was an innocent mistake, but what if it wasn’t?

Ironically, the TSA thought it was reassuring the public by stating the shutdown didn’t contribute to the breach.

“The perception that this might have occurred as a result of the partial government shutdown would be false … in fact, the national call-out rate was higher a year ago than this year on that date,” the TSA said.

What a relief, knowing that when the TSA is at full strength, they’re still letting guns onto planes. Scared? You should be.

Just three years ago, undercover Homeland Security teams were successful in 67 of 70 attempts in getting weapons and explosives past TSA screeners nationwide. It’s just another example of how ineffective the TSA is, both in leadership and at the rank-and-file level.

With such an abysmal failure rate, one would think that the TSA would get its head in the game by prioritizing its only mission: protecting airports, airlines, and, most of all, passengers. But it isn’t.

Instead, just recently, the TSA’s big announcement was that it would be replacing pointy-eared dogs with those sporting floppy-ears. No joke.

So rather than focusing on that which actually matters – stopping bad people from doing terrible things – the TSA thinks it’s more important to phase out so-called “intimidating” breeds like the venerable German Shepherd.

“We find the passenger acceptance of floppy-ear dogs is just better. It presents just a little bit less of a concern,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “Doesn’t scare children.”

Is he for real? So the head of the TSA cares more about a dog’s “appearance” than employing those canines best-suited to sniff out terrorists? With that warped mentality, it’s no wonder 96 percent of explosives are getting through.

Instead of a snowflake policy that allows the tail to wag the dog, the TSA needs K-9s and trainers who look like they mean business – and who make the bad guys sweat. And should the bad guy need to be taken down, there is no equal to the speed, strength, intelligence and bite force of a German Shepherd.

TSA employees calling out sick because of the shutdown should be the least of the agency’s concerns.

Congress should pass legislation exempting the TSA, Secret Service and Coast Guard from not getting paid during future shutdowns, since national security is compromised.

In the meantime, the TSA’s union agreement should be amended to stipulate that any TSA employee calling out sick during a shutdown needs to produce a doctor’s note as proof of illness, or face immediate termination.

Shutdowns are rare, but they come with the territory of being a government employee. Let’s not forget that they are not working for free, and will receive every penny for time worked, albeit after the shutdown. When the hardship ends, TSA employees will still have job security, and won’t be out any money.

During the months-long Pennsylvania budget crisis of 1977, no state employees were paid, including state police.

Yet to their credit, the “staties’” absenteeism rate was substantially below normal throughout the shutdown. It was an example of unparalleled commitment to public service, and one which TSA employees should follow.

If they don’t, and a security breach leads to tragedy, it will be a whole lot more than just their jobs that crash and burn.