Department of Homeland Security Implementing Secure Flight Program

17 August 2010

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is currently implementing a new program called Secure Flight that is intended to establish an accurate and consistent watch list and provide a redress procedure in case an innocent name becomes associated with a threat name.  Under Secure Flight, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prescreens passenger name, date of birth and gender against government watch lists for international and domestic U.S. flights. In addition to facilitating secure travel for all passengers, the program helps prevent the misidentification of passengers who have names similar to individuals on government watch lists.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said, “Secure Flight fulfills a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission Report, enabling TSA to screen passengers directly against government watch lists using passenger name, date of birth and gender before a boarding pass is issued.  The program is one of our many layers of security – coordinated with our partners in the airline industry and governments around the world – that we leverage to protect the traveling public against threats of terrorism.”

Secure Flight will be implemented for all international carriers with direct flights to the U.S. by the end of calendar year 2010.