▶ 0:21:59Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security will come to order. Without objection, the chair may declare the subcommittee in recess at any point. Before we begin today's hearings, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the absence of a valued member of our subcommittee. We are mourning the loss of our friend and colleague, Congressman Turner. Sylvester's decades of dedicated public service to the people of Houston and his contributions to this nation and Congress will be remembered as part of his lasting legacy.
▶ 0:22:25My thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially his daughter and grandson, as they grieve his passing and honor his life of service. Also want to thank the gentleman uh I want to welcome the the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Carter, to the subcommittee.
▶ 0:22:39Today's hearings will assess the current state of US travel security and infrastructure, evaluating the readiness of airports, ports, and border entry points to manage large influxes of international travelers while ensuring the security measures, technological advancements, and operational processes meet future needs. I now recognize myself for an opening statement. Good morning.
▶ 0:23:03I want to thank everyone for being here today, especially our witnesses, as we take a closer look at how the United States is preparing to welcome the world over the next few years for significant international events. Beginning this summer, the United States will step onto the global stage by hosting the FIFA Club World Cup. This tournament will feature elite professional clubs from around the world such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Inner Miami FC, my hometown team, and will take place at select venues throughout the United States.
▶ 0:23:32This event will provide an early opportunity to stress test our travel systems, infrastructure, and security coordination ahead of even larger events on the horizon. In 2026, our country will host the FIFA World Cup with matches played by national teams and cities across the nation, and I am thrilled that this includes my home city of Miami.
▶ 0:23:52At the same time, we will celebrate America's 250th anniversary in July 2026, followed by the summer Olympics and Parolympics in in Los Angeles in 2028. When I was mayor of Miami date county, I witnessed firsthand just uh how much planning and hard work goes into ensuring these major events run smoothly. As a member of Congress, I intend to do all I can to make sure that these international events are safe for millions of Americans and those traveling here who are planning on attending.
▶ 0:24:22These events are more than just celebrations or competitions. They are major opportunities to show the world what America stands for and what we can achieve. If we get this right, the payoff could be enormous. According to the US Travel Association, we could generate nearly $95 billion in economic activity and welcome over 40 million international visitors. That will only happen if we plan ahead, invest wisely, and make sure that the travel experience in the United States is smooth, modern, and secure.
▶ 0:24:52Right now, we have work to do. A recent report uh from the United States Travel Association made it clear makes it clear that while the United States remains one of the top destinations for international travelers, we now rank last among the top travel destinations when it comes to national planning and leadership. Long uh waits for visas, outdated airport technology, and staffing shortages at our ports of entry are slowing us down.
▶ 0:25:20These problems are not just frustrating, they could cost us jobs, investment, and global influence. This is why I support President Trump's recent executive order creating a White House task force focused on the 2026 World Cup. This kind of coordination is exactly what we need. It brings the right people to the table and sends a strong message that the United States is serious about being ready.
▶ 0:25:42I'm currently working on a bill that would take this uh step of f step further by creating a task a federal task force to focus on all major international events occurring in the United States over the next four years. That includes the World Cup, America's 250th and the 2028 Olympics. We need to make sure every agency involved is working together uh and that our policies and resources are aligned. We also need to think about security.
▶ 0:26:09Big crowds and high-profile venues make these big events targets. Uh that includes threats from drones, which are becoming more common around stadiums and public gatherings. We need to make sure agencies like DHS, TSA, and state and local law enforcement have the tools and coordination they need to stop these threats in the planning stage long before that they can cause harm. We should take this opportunity to make long needed reforms to our travel system.
▶ 0:26:37We need to make the system more thorough and effective while still being welcoming to legitimate travelers. That means better technology at airports, shorter visa waiting uh wait times, and making sure that we have enough officers at our ports of entry. The world will be watching uh and with the right vision and coordination, the United States can set the global standard, not just for security or but for innovation, hospitality, and safety.
▶ 0:27:03I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about how we turn that vision into the reality. And now I recognize the ranking member, the gentleoman from New Jersey, Miss McCyver, for her opening statements. Good morning and thank you to our witnesses for joining us today. And thank you to Chairman Gimenez for holding today's hearing. I too want to join in on just expressing um our condolences and sympathy uh to uh Rep.
▶ 0:27:29uh Turner's family uh who passed away who was a part of this committee as we continue to pray um and keep his family and his friends and his close colleagues um in our thoughts. So um definitely join us in that and and sending well wishes to his family. Um the travel and tourism industry is a vital part of the US economy.
▶ 0:27:49In November 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, providing a 1.2 2 trillion investment in American transportation and infrastructure. In December 2022, President Biden signed an omnous spending package into law, funding payraises and an expanded collective bargaining framework for TSA employees.
▶ 0:28:13These historic investments have helped spur continued growth in US travel and tourism and help secure our transportation networks. In 2024, travel in United Sta in the United States produced an economic output of 2.8 trillion and supported more than 15 million American jobs and record numbers of passengers traveled through TSA security checkpoints.
▶ 0:28:38to continue to grow the US travel system and prepare for upcoming international events. Any sane administration would continue to invest in our infrastructure, update our security technology, and support our federal workforce. Unfortunately, President Trump and Republicans in Congress are doing the exact opposite.
▶ 0:29:00Take for example making investments in cuttingedge security technology to fund new CT scanners and other equipment at TSA checkpoints at the necessary scale and pace. Congress must stop using passenger security fee collections as a slush fund and return that money to TSA. But instead, Republicans are considering increasing passenger security fees and using that money to help pay for tax cuts for billionaires.
▶ 0:29:28According to a document showing their reconciliation plans, Republicans want to charge airline passengers more and then put the money in billionaire pockets. The passenger security fee was was created to help fund TSA and prevent another 911. But Republicans care more about giving tax cuts to billionaires. That's despicable. Let's turn to workforce issues. Transportation security officers are the backbone of our transportation security system.
▶ 0:29:57as they screen millions of passengers and pieces of luggage every day to keep our skies safe. Yet over the past month month, President Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Christy Gnome have taken the first steps in dismantling the professional aviation security workforce we have worked so hard to build over the past two decades.
▶ 0:30:20On March 7th, Secretary Gnome ended TSA's 7-year collective bargaining agreement and dismantled union rights in a political and illegal move to advance President Trump's union busting agenda. I am glad this move is being challenged in the courts. But in the meantime, it undermines the TSO workforce just as it had finally stabilized after decades of high attrition.
▶ 0:30:46Worse yet, the termination of TSA's collective bargaining agreement may pave the way for Project 2025's goal of privatizing the agency and an effort Republicans in Congress are already trying to advance.
▶ 0:31:00Privatizing more than 400 airports and over 50,000 screening officers would throw would throw the entire aviation security system into chaos and return us to the pre 911 model that failed to prevent the largest terrorist attack in US history. Democrat Democrats will fight tooth and nail to prevent Republicans from sacrificing our national security at the altar of corporate greed.
▶ 0:31:26Unfortunately, the problems the Trump administration is creating for travel and tourism industry go well beyond TSA. In 2024, the International Trade Administration reported a 9% increase of international visitors to the United States. Under the Biden administration, US tourism was booming and open for business.
▶ 0:31:48However, in just two months since President Trump took office, he has managed to throw that all away by by detaining ter by detaining tourists, attacking allies, and tanking the economy. The list of countries that have changed their advisories to warn travelers to the United States of potential risk is growing longer by the day.
▶ 0:32:09That list now includes the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, and Canada. Canadians who visit the US more than anyone are now cancelling their trips as flight bookings from Canada have dropped 70%. Since Trump took office, several travelers trying to enter the US have been turned away or detained for days or weeks with little to no explanation.
▶ 0:32:39A French scientist scheduled to attend a conference in Houston was turned away reportedly because his personal device contained opinions criticizing Trump's research policies. A Canadian citizen was put in a jumpsuit in chains and detained for over two weeks as she legally went through the process to obtain a work visa. A German tourist spent more than six weeks in a detention center, including eight days in solitary confinement because she was traveling with tattooing equipment.
▶ 0:33:09Through these cases and others, Donald Trump is sending the message that visitors to the US may be arrested without explanation. Trump is sending a message that the United States is closed for business. Trump's policies put at risk trillions of dollars in tourism spending and millions of American jobs. Let me be clear, if you aren't, even from watching the news today, Donald Trump is tanking the economy.
▶ 0:33:36I look forward to to discussing with our witnesses how the dire situation will impact our national security and the success of upcoming high-profile events like the World Cup and the Olympics. Thank you. And with that, I yield back. Thank you. And now recognize the ranking member of the committee, uh, the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Thompson. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and let me welcome our witnesses, uh, on the panel today.
▶ 0:34:04Uh, I'm glad the subcommittee is examining the state of US travel system ahead of high-profile international events. The outlook for the World Cup, the Olympics, and other major events set to be hosted in the United States over the next few years is dire. In just a couple of short months in office, Donald Trump and his Republican lackey have done tremendous damage to the US travel and tourism.
▶ 0:34:34People visiting the United States can no longer be confident that they will be treated fairly by our government. Just last week, a renowned mixed martial arts fighter and coach trying to visit the US for a seminar was detained upon entry, sent to a federal detention facility and ultimately sent back to Australia, all without little explanation.
▶ 0:35:00If this is how we treat foreign athletes and co coaches visiting the United States, one can only imagine how the World Cup and Olympics will go. This is just one of the many instances of the Trump administration inflicting unnecessary trauma upon foreign visitors. The cruelty is the point.
▶ 0:35:21Donald Trump apparently does not want foreign visitors to visit the United States, even though travel represented $2.8 trillion dollar of US economic output in The impact of Trump's chaotic and undefined detention and deportation policies is already apparent.
▶ 0:35:43Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Finland, the Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands have all updated travel guidance for people visiting the United States to warn of potential for detention or discrimination. Airline bookings from Canada, which provides the most visitors to the United States by far, is already down 70%.
▶ 0:36:11The impacts of this loss of international travel will be devastating to local economies. In 2023, more than 1.3 trillion in travel spending contributed 89 billion in tax revenues to states and communities across the country. More than 15 million American workers are either directly employed or heavily supported by the travel industry.
▶ 0:36:37Some of those workers are also facing more direct assaults from the Trump administration. Last month, Secretary of Homeland Security Christy Gnome issued a memo to strip TSA employees of their union rights and resend their existing collective bargaining agreement. Transportation security officers screen millions of passengers every day to protect air travel.
▶ 0:37:05For many years, the TSA workforce was plagued by low morale and high attrition. In 2022, President Biden signed into law an omnibus spending bill providing payraises and funding and expanded collective bargaining framework for TSOs. Those measures have had a dramatic impact on TSA's ability to carry out its security mission as attrition has dropped in half.
▶ 0:37:35Undoing this progress is dumb, cruel, and illegal. The secretary cannot unilaterally resend a binding legal contract. I hope the courts will put a stop to this negatively political madness.
▶ 0:37:51In the meantime, I'm proud to have reintroduced by bill the rights for the TSA Workforce Act, which would provide TSA workers with full collective bargaining rights and a fair pay under Title Five of the US Code. Now is a time for members of both parties to stand up against Donald Trump and push back against his cruel and foolish policies. Donald Trump is putting America last.
▶ 0:38:21The US travel and tourism industry will be among the Trump's administration's first casualty if we do not change course quickly. Thank you again to our witnesses for joining us today to discuss this critical challenge. I yield back, Mr. Chair. Thank you to ranking member. Uh other members of the committee are reminded that opening statements may be submitted for the record. I am pleased to have a distinguished panel of witnesses before us today on this critical topic.
▶ 0:38:49I ask that our witnesses please rise and raise your right hands. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you will give before the committee on homeland security of the United States House of Representatives will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God. Let the record reflect that the witnesses have answered in the affirmative. And thank you and please be I would now like to formally introduce our witnesses. Mr.
▶ 0:39:17Jeff uh Freeman is the president and CEO of the US Travel Association, the leading advocate for the $1.1 trillion US travel and hospitality industry. Mr. Freeman is a seasoned association CEO with a proven track record of uh building successful organizations that unite members interests, grow members values, increase revenue, and unlock growth opportunities.
▶ 0:39:40Prior to joining U US Travel, uh Freeman was president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association, the trade association for America's $2.1 trillion food, beverage, and consumer products industry. Mr. John Gruin uh is the CEO and executive chairman of Forom Technologies, a tech company that provides artificial intelligence enabled airspace awareness and counter drone solutions to defense, law enforcement, and commercial customers. Previously, Mr.
▶ 0:40:09Gruin was a corporate business development and strategy lead for Lheed Martin. Prior to joining Lheed Martin, Mr. Gruin was a Navy Seal officer where he served in increasing leadership positions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Uh he is currently a naval uh reserve captain and has commanded unmanned air systems and technology innovation units.
▶ 0:40:31Uh John received his bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy and received his masters of business administrations from the HOA School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Everett Kelly is the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which is the largest union representing federal and DC government employees.
▶ 0:40:52He began his first term of service as national president in February 2020, was elected to another term during the 42nd National Convention in June 2022, and was reelected during the 43rd National Convention in August of 2024. Dr. Kelly has been a member of the of AFG since 1981. He worked at Aniston Army Depot and retired from there after 30 years of service. I thank each of our distinguished witnesses for being here today.
▶ 0:41:23I also uh would like to u offer the following letter from the um uh Airlines for America uh for the record uh without objection. So ordered. And I recognize Mr. Freeman for five minutes to summarize his uh Um Mr. Freeman, you're recognized for five minutes. Thank you, Chairman Jimenez. Uh, Congresswoman, Ranking Member Macyver, Ranking Member Thompson, Congressman Crane.
▶ 0:41:52I appreciate the opportunity to be with you today. I'm Jeff Freeman, president and CEO of the US Travel Association, representing all aspects of the $2 trillion travel industry, airlines, airports, theme parks, hotels, destinations from coast to coast. And I want to thank you at the outset for your appreciation of the travel industry and the impact that it has.
▶ 0:42:13Travel's a vital economic engine, contributing nearly three trillion annually and supporting more than 15 million jobs across the United States, more than 10% of our nation's workforce. Travel strengthens America's global standing, encourages business and cultural exchange, and generates significant tax revenue. In 2024, international visitors alone contributed 181 billion to our economy. But we can't count on this continued success without investments and reforms.
▶ 0:42:43Our infrastructure is failing to keep pace with the increasing demand for travel. For example, the Transportation Security Administration screened more than 3 million travelers on two occasions last year. By 2028, we're projected to see 100 days per year with that same volume. Our systems from security to customs to air traffic control are outdated and not prepared for this surge. It's not just about inefficiencies. It's also about global competition.
▶ 0:43:13Countries like China, India, and Saudi Arabia are making rapid advancements to their travel infrastructure, and we risk falling behind if we don't act swiftly. The next decade presents a tremendous opportunity. Major events like the 2026 World Cup, America's 250th anniversary, and the 2028 Olympics are expected to spur domestic travel and bring millions of international travelers to the United States.
▶ 0:43:38But without modernizing our travel infrastructure, we will not capture the full economic benefit of these events. President Trump's creation of the White House task force for the World Cup is a step in the right direction, but much more is necessary to ensure that our country can maximize the travel opportunity. To help meet these challenges, US travel developed a comprehensive blueprint for the future of American travel, focusing on the following key policy recommendations. Number one, we need greater government leadership.
▶ 0:44:09Travel needs dedicated leadership at the highest levels of government. We urge Congress and the administration to priorit prioritize travel policy and create a sustainable model for overseeing travel improvements from end to end. Number two, we've got to address visa processing reform. Long delays in visitor visa processing hurts our ability to attract international visitors.
▶ 0:44:32We recommend providing full strength consular staffing, extending visa validity for vetted lawful visitors, and establishing a national vetting service to lead visa processing. This will ensure the US remains an attractive destination while maintaining strong national security. Number three, we've got to revolutionize TSA screening. Airport screening relies on inconsistent, unpleasant, and manual processes.
▶ 0:44:57We recommend immediately ending the diversion of the passenger security fee and increasing technology funding to place new identity verification onperson screening and baggage screening technology in every US airport lane within the next 5 years.
▶ 0:45:13This will improve security, reduce weight times, and create a more seamless experience, allowing all travelers to carry water bottles and larger liquids, leave all electronics in their bags, and keep their shoes, jackets, and belts on their person. Finally, we've got to create a world-class customs process. We need to modernize the international arrival process for our guests.
▶ 0:45:36We recommend increasing CBP officer staffing at airports of entry while using biometric technology and enhanced traveler vetting to reduce processing times. This will allow the automated entry of trusted travelers and returning Americans while enabling CBP officers to focus their inspection efforts on unknown individuals. These four steps are critical to ensuring the US remains a global leader in travel and that our infrastructure can handle the increasing demand.
▶ 0:46:06The status quo is not an option. Travel demand is growing. Our infrastructure is aging and global competitors are moving quickly. If we fail to act, we risk losing economic opportunities, diminishing America's competitive edge, and foregoing millions of foreign visitors. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to answering any questions you may have. Thank you, Mr. Freeman. Now, I recognize Mr. Gruin for five minutes to summarize his opening statement.
▶ 0:46:36Good morning, Chairman Gimenez, Ranking Member Macyver, and honorable members of the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee. My name is John Gruin, and I am the chief executive officer of FOROM Technologies. I'm grateful for the opportunity to testify today on the security of upcoming international events. Forom was founded in 2016 to develop and produce the technology needed to defeat drones.
▶ 0:47:02We've become a global leader in drone detection and mitigation, focused on systems that can operate safely in the populated areas and in the national airspace. Our technology is currently deployed by CBP at the southern border, on US military bases, and at critical infrastructure sites worldwide.
▶ 0:47:23Forom also provided counter drone solutions to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the 2022 World Cup games in Qar, and the recent inauguration of President Trump here in DC. Over the next decade, the United States will host multiple major international sporting events. And as we approach these global events, it is vital that we assess today's threat landscape and act now to lower the risk of incidents.
▶ 0:47:52As you are well aware, the occurrence of drone threats has surged in recent years with the Department of Defense and Homeland Security reporting thousands of unauthorized drone incidents annually. Recent domestic drone incidents like the collision with a firefighting aircraft in Los Angeles and one that halted an NFL playoff game or warnings of what's to come if we don't act.
▶ 0:48:16Another example includes the incursion that occurred over Joint Base Langley Eustace in 2023 which triggered a month-long inter agency attempt to deploy counter drone assets to no avail. This in in this incident standard detection and defeat systems failed offering no advanced warning of incoming drones or means to defeat what should have been considered a clear and danger.
▶ 0:48:45This event highlighted a new category of threats we are facing. Dark drones, aircraft designed to evade detection by not emitting RF signals to protect sensitive sites and large public gatherings. Dark drone detection and kinetic mitigation must be the core of any successful counter drone system. Thankfully, we do have the technology to defeat rogue drones before they cause harm.
▶ 0:49:15Companies like mine have developed AI powered sensors necessary to identify the threats, including dark drones, as well as autonomous interceptor drones capable of safely taking down the threats. Our system intercepts drones with an aerial net capture system and towes them to predetermined locations, ensuring the safety of bystanders and allowing for forensics on the captured drone.
▶ 0:49:44As I mentioned, this technology has protected spectators at the World Cup, Olympics, and at other significant events before. We must field these defensive solutions at scale in the homeland now as time is a critical aspect in fielding an effective counter drone system. Based on our experience, counter drone systems must start to be deployed 12 months before the event to allow time for system delivery, site analysis, and operational training.
▶ 0:50:15With the 2026 World Cup just over a year away, federal agencies must be given the tools and authorities they need, and local law enforcement must be empowered to respond to drone threats quickly and effectively. Currently, counter drone authorities are spread across multiple agencies with delayed abilities to mitigate known threats.
▶ 0:50:36In the instance of a drone is detected and determined to be a danger, authorized federal personnel must be present and still request explicit clearance to take mitigation action. The chaos that ensued when drone activity disrupted flights at Newark Airport last year is a glaring example of our inability to respond to drone threats in real time.
▶ 0:50:59I commend this committee's thoughtful bipartisan work to resolve this challenge through HR8610 last year and believe this bill should be passed swiftly in the new Congress. We need centralized streamlined counter drone processes now and we must delegate mitigation authority to state and local law enforcement.
▶ 0:51:20Their involvement is critical for faster response and better security at a 12 plus city event like the World Cup where federal resources will be stretched thin. Thank you. And I look forward to answering your questions. Thank you, Mr. Gruin. I now recognize Dr. Kelly for five minutes to summarize his opening statements.
▶ 0:51:43Chairman Gimenez, uh, Ranking Member uh, Chairman Green, Ranking Member Thompson, and members of the subcommittee. My name is Eric Kelly. I am the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFGE. And on behalf of over 820,000 federal and DC government workers represented by my union, including more than 47,000 transportation security officers, I appreciate the opportunity to uh testify today.
▶ 0:52:14The decision by Secretary of Homeland Security Christy Nomes to unilaterally resend the 2024 collective bargaining agreement between AFGE and the Transportation Security Administration has created an unprecedented crisis for TSOs at a time when our nation's aviation security system faces increasing demands.
▶ 0:52:35This decision undermines workforce stability and aviation security as we prepare for significant international events like America's 250th birthday next year and the summer Olympic games in 2028. Since 2011, FGE has worked with TSA to establish a framework for genuine collective bargaining that balances aviation security needs with workers rights.
▶ 0:53:00Our agreement have a strengthened workplace policies while maintaining TSA's operational flexibilities. The 2024 uh CBA marked a significant milestone providing long-term stability and predictable working condition for TSOs while supporting TSA's uh mission. The abrupt termination of this agreement by Secretary Nomes has dismantled years of progress.
▶ 0:53:26This action has left over 47,000 TSO vulnerable to arbit arbitrary management decisions, undermining morale and creating instability within the TSA's workforce. Secretary Nome's decision to resend our CBA has created immediate uncertainty for TSOs who relied on this protection for uh predictable working conditions and without established procedures for ship bidding, leaves approval or grievance resolution.
▶ 0:53:54TSOs face arbitrary decision that undermines morale and job satisfaction. This instability will lead to higher turnover rates uh direct threat to aviation security as experienced officers leave their post. The the timing could not be worse. Major interaction uh and international events will significantly increase travelers volumes in the coming years requiring a foolish staff and motivated workforce operating under standardized procedures.
▶ 0:54:25Workforce instability threatens screening uh consistencies and efficiencies during these critical periods when heightened security uh villages is essential to address this crisis. Congress must take immediate action and this is an ask. First, AFG urges Congress to pass legislation to codify collective bargaining rights for TSOs.
▶ 0:54:47FG strongly support the rights for TSA work the TSA workforce act HR uh 2086 introduced by ranking member Bennett Thompson. This bipartisan legislation will provide uh permanence to TSO's labor rights under title five of the US code ensuring fair grievance procedures and merit system protection board appeal rights. Congress need to prioritize this legislation.
▶ 0:55:14Second, uh, AFGE asked Congress to restore a rescended collective bargaining agreement. Congress need to pass legislation mandating the reinstatement of 2024 uh, CBA immediately to restore stability to the TSA workforce. Finally, Congress need to utilize the oversight authority. Congress must investigate Secretary Gnome's decisions through public hearing that examine its legal basis and factual justification.
▶ 0:55:40DHS officials should be uh required to provide evidence supporting their claim against FG while explaining how this action aligns with national security priorities. The decision to resend the 2024 collective bargain agreement represent an unprecedented attack on workers rights that threatens aviation security in a critical time for our nation. TSOs perform vital function in protecting America's transportation system.
▶ 0:56:04They deserve dignity, respect, and fair working conditions provided through binding agreements negotiated on their behalf. Ag remains committed to fighting for TSO's rights while working with Congress to find solutions that balance labor protections with aviation security needs. So, thank you for uh holding this hearing today, and I look forward to answering any question that you might have. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Members will be recognized in order of seniority for their five minutes of questioning.
▶ 0:56:33and I recognize myself for 5 minutes of uh questioning. Um Mr. um have we ever reached um I know that we had the pandemic and then what was the the highest year that we had international passengers in the United States? The highest year for international travel was 2018. We have gone down or remained below that every year since. Uh we at the end of last year were only at about 90% of where we were pre- pandemic.
▶ 0:57:00So the US continues to struggle to welcome international visitors in the numbers we previously did. Visa coming into this year, visa concerns, custom concerns uh were top reasons for that. We can't ignore the strength of the dollar. We can't ignore uh our economy versus others coming into this year. But the issues that were within our control were 500 day plus wait times to get an interview for a visa, multi-hour waits to get through customs. Both of those were big deterrence for foreign travelers.
▶ 0:57:27Was that was that a reality before the Trump administration or has that just happened in the last 60 days? Uh we we've ebbed and flowed in terms of uh where we are on visa weight times. The lowest we've ever been was during the Obama administration where all consulates around the world process visas in two weeks or less. Uh that has ebbed and flowed ever since. There were successes uh during the Trump term. There were more struggles coming out of the pandemic.
▶ 0:57:52uh we have really struggled to get the consular officials we need around the world and to get these visa weight times down. How do we end up with weight times of two weeks to 500 days? How did that happen? Yeah, when when you look at what happened post pandemic or in the early days of the pandemic, all these foreign service officers came back home. Uh they were slow to get back out to their consulates around the world. Uh processing visas is also the lowest uh rung on the totem pole of jobs within uh the foreign service officer community.
▶ 0:58:22It's not the most desired job out there. That's why we've recommended an alternative approach to doing this. If we want to get all wait times down to 30 days or less, which is something the United States of America should aspire to do, we need to take a new look at how we do this. These fees that foreign travelers pay can cover the cost of creating a new service that processes travelers. there's no need for foreign service officers to do this. There's a better way to do it. Uh we think we can also use uh kind of emergency SWAT teams whenever weight times get high.
▶ 0:58:51We could send these officers or these officials uh into jurisdictions where they get high. The United States can be the most secure nation in the world and also the most efficient when it comes to processing travelers. But we lack to technology. We lack the manpower and we have lacked the manpower and technology for some time in order to do that. And also probably policy, right? I'm sorry. Policy. Okay. Manpower has been an enormous issue. Technology is an even bigger issue. I think the will to get it done is the largest issue. Right.
▶ 0:59:21Where is the goal? Right. Where we don't have a goal when it comes to processing visas. At the end of the Biden administration, they established a goal of 90 days or less. If we achieved that goal, we would have still been last in the world when it comes to processing visas. This was at the end of the Biden administration. End of the November of the Biden administration. We need to have greater aspirations when it comes to how we welcome travelers into this country. They want to do nothing more than come here, spend their money, and go home and tell their family and friends what a great time they had.
▶ 0:59:49So, the Biden administration was in in close to four years. basically at right at the end of his administration, he decided, well, maybe we not have a a 90-day period uh versus the 500 day period that uh some of these visas have taken. There's no doubt that the wait times uh peaked uh coming out of COVID. Uh there were steps taken. It was a little too little too late.
▶ 1:00:08We're hopeful we could find bipartisan support to be more efficient in the future, which by the way, I I agree that the the passenger security fee that has been diverted for a number of years. Um, not is needs to be fully invested in in uh in TSA. And I don't believe you're going to be paying for something, you're saying, I'm paying a passenger security fee. It should be for passenger security. That's a novel concept, I think, here in the federal government.
▶ 1:00:36And I think that uh that can be said for administrations on both sides of the aisle. Uh so I would hope I know that u one of my colleagues uh Nicola Loa had a a bill to kind to make sure that the passenger fee went to technology etc that that we need at TSA and I certainly support that. Uh and I think we need to do more of that. The the the fact that we're not going to be upgrading our systems to the middle middle of 2040s. All right, that's totally unacceptable.
▶ 1:01:05Um, Mr. Gruin, in terms of in terms of of of drones, and I only have about 30 30 seconds left. Um, I found it interesting that you said that even if you put your technology, say, at all these stadiums, etc. to protect, that it would take a federal individual to say go ahead and knock that drone out of the sky, that that a local law enforcement could not make that call on its own to protect its own citizens. Correct. the local law enforcement, state and local do not have the current authorities.
▶ 1:01:35Even federal have it only authorized in temporary durations and only certain agencies. Fair enough. Okay. Uh maybe I'll come back to a second round. With that, uh I um I yield back and now I recognize the ranking member, the gentleman from New Thank you uh so much uh chairman. For many years, we all know that TSA experienced very high attrition rates among its frontline officers.
▶ 1:02:01AFG worked for many years to advocate for better pay for TSOs to put them on the same pay scale as other federal workers and help address attrition. In 2023, when payraises for TSOs finally went into effect, TSA's attrition rate dropped nearly half. President Kelly, with the Trump administration now trying to bust TSO's union, do you expect attrition rates to rise again?
▶ 1:02:27How would higher attrition rates affect the security of commercial travel as well as wait times at checkpoints? Thank you for the question. I certainly certainly think that uh it will affect attrition rates because as we all know that attrition rate went down more than half uh because there was a CBA because there was adequate pay uh because there was some rights for these employees on the job. They felt uh very secure. Uh the morale was up.
▶ 1:02:53Uh but now that they don't have a CBA, it was certainly I expect the attrition rate to go back to where it was or maybe even below uh because they don't have any protection. They don't have any morale is seem to be going down as I travel the airports and talked to various you know we all see that. So I think that you will see it go completely south.
▶ 1:03:15I think that wait time will be uh the results of this attrition rates going back because you're talking about now um employee burnout, you know, and all these type of thing that's going to happen that's going to affect weight time. Thank you. Um Mr. Freeman, earlier this year, the press reported on the document listing options House Republicans are considering including in their reconciliation bill.
▶ 1:03:39The document included proposals for increasing the passenger security fee passengers pay on each airline ticket and extending the diversion of fee collections away from TSA's budget to help fund tax cuts. What is the US Travel Association's position on extending fee diversions away from TSA's budget? TSA plays a critical role in the travel process. Uh we value our partnership with TSA.
▶ 1:04:04believe that TSA needs to better balance uh its funding between technology and staffing. To do that, it needs to maintain all of the resources it it achieves through the transportation security fee. As the chairman said, none of that money should be diverted. Uh it's a violation of every traveler that's out there who is expecting the contributions they're making when they buy that airline ticket to be supporting the travel process. And how we do that through both technology and staffing is a critical question. Thank you uh for that.
▶ 1:04:35Um in my opening statement, I talked about the decrease in um visit visitation from uh Canadians. Um and you talked a little bit about just the decrease and the differences in between travel currently currently right now. How will these reductions in Canadian visitors to the US impact the travel industry and economy in your opinion?
▶ 1:04:56If if indeed we have a decline in Canadian visitation, it will be significant uh in terms of the effect on our economy, a 10% decline in Canadian travelers would cost the market about $2 billion in spending. Uh Canada is critical to the United States. It's critical that we send the message that we want Canadian visitors to come. We've seen tensions in the past between nations. That doesn't need to become a part of the travel process.
▶ 1:05:20We'd like to see uh that clear message right now that Canadians, Europeans, all travelers are encouraged to come to the United States. Uh that message could be sent more loudly right now. Thank you uh Mr. Freeman. With that, I yield back. Thank you. And I recognize the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Crane. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 1:05:41This is a very important uh hearing today talking about travel um into the US and some of the big events that we have coming up um like the Olympics and the World Cup. Um Mr. Freeman, I want to start with you. According to the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics, TSA has either halted data collection or has overclassified information on prohibited items detected and ceased by TSA since 2008.
▶ 1:06:10by concerned that TSA purposely hasn't collected data or is overclassifying data to hide embarrassing statistics that show that they routinely fail what the industry calls covert tests. These tests are an event where an undercover operative from the agency tests security by attempting to smuggle prohibited items through TSA.
▶ 1:06:32In 2015, DHS II John Roth issued a scathing report highlighting under the Obama administration, the IG found that 96% of instances TSA officers used advanced imaging technology or AIT at eight airports failed to detect hidden threat items. AIT is still in use today at US airports by TSA.
▶ 1:06:59The agency doesn't have any data to suggest that these figures from 2015 have improved in 2025. I'm currently working with the chairman on drafting a bill that would require TSA to submit the results of all covert testing andor redteameing testing to the committee on homeland security and I hope this bill can be bipartisan. My question, sir, and please answer briefly.
▶ 1:07:24With TSA's covert test failures, coupled with the fact that the agency has hasn't collected or submitted data on failed covert testing in recent years, how can Congress ensure that TSA is capable of handling incoming travelers from around the world for upcoming events like America's 250th birthday, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Thank you, Congressman. TSA's success is critical to all travelers.
▶ 1:07:51Travelers need confidence in their safety, in their security, or else they're simply not going to travel. So, we share your concern with anything that would suggest uh that the process is anything but as safe and secure as it could be. Uh TSA's accountability is to you, it's to Congress, it's to the traveling public. So, we support your efforts to find ways to ensure that the technology, the staffing levels are working in the ways that they need to work.
▶ 1:08:17I will point out that in recent years, while staffing has increased, spending on staffing has increased, spending on technology has decreased. The technology that is so desperately needed in the airports is not slated to get into the airports until the 2040s. We need to be more urgent about providing the best technology uh and as quickly as we can to TSA to ensure the the safety and security of the traveling public.
▶ 1:08:41Were you aware of that statistic that I read you that under the Obama administration, OIG found that in 96% um the TSA officers using advanced image technology failed their test when employees from the TSA tried to smuggle weapons, bombs, knives, guns, etc. through their security checkpoints. I was not aware of that specific statistic. What do you think about that, sir? It it sounds like every day we've got work to do.
▶ 1:09:10We've got work to do to get better. Uh we've got to make sure we've got the right training. We've got the right technology. We've got the right people in place. Security safety is fundamental to people traveling. If people don't have that confidence, we will see a decline in travel. It's something that is of the utmost importance and you certainly have our support. What about you, Mr. Gruin? Did you were you aware of that? I was not aware of that statistic. What do you think about the fact that they're no longer reporting those numbers?
▶ 1:09:42I mean, again, oversight and requiring an agency to do their job is is essential to good governance. Okay. Mr. Mr. Freeman, during the 2024 4th annual future of travel mobility conference, you mentioned the need to grasp the opportunity right in front of us when talking about a decade of sporting events that will make the US the most soughtafter destination. Modernizing our TSA and travel processing procedures are included.
▶ 1:10:08My question is, please answer briefly, how should TSA and Congress look at the use of AI for passenger processing to scan faces and directly cross reference international travelers with criminal databases? It was at that same conference that uh I interviewed former TSA administrator Picausski uh who demonstrated tremendous leadership during his time within TSA and partnership with the private sector. Uh I think based on my experience with administrator Picausski, TSA was going down the right road in terms of what it looks at AI.
▶ 1:10:38We see enormous potential. The simple truth is that AI can detect things that the human eye will miss. Uh and we see enormous potential in technology. Thank you. I yield back. Thank you. And I recognize uh the ranking member of the committee, the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Thompson. Uh thank you so much. And I think it's uh interesting to uh respond that President Trump had nominated uh Mr.
▶ 1:11:05Paskki to uh serve as the TSA administrator and he was allowed a second term, but in the midst of it, he was fired. Uh I think that's unfortunate. he had done a good job and um you know I think he he deserved a better uh departure ramp than what he received uh cuz from my vantage point both Democrats and Republicans saw his vision for moving the
▶ 1:11:35uh the agency forward. The other thing I'd like to say is that uh TSA and its workers and technology uh have managed a successful um um screening effort so that there's been nothing successful up to this point. That doesn't mean things hadn't gotten through. It just hadn't been successful. You can call it luck or whatever.
▶ 1:12:01Uh but we also believe that uh is a force multiplier for security in all of this. Uh there only so many men and women we can put uh in airports and do what we do other than um uh uh that technology can't do a better job.
▶ 1:12:23Uh it's unfortunate that we've had several opportunities to invest in more technology and we've not had the kind of bipartisan support to finance that technology, but we have to do it. I look forward to doing it. Uh one of the things we're talking about the different events headed uh to this country in the not too distant future. Uh so Mr.
▶ 1:12:47Uh Freeman, my concern is that are you or your organization aware of what the administration is doing in its screening uh uh protocols that uh are creating this discomfort? Have you seen anything in writing on those protocols or anything? We've had discussions with Customs and Border Protection to understand uh what policies are in place, what if any policies have changed.
▶ 1:13:16Uh my understanding is that policies have not changed. Uh but media coverage has certainly increased. We're aware of that. We're aware of the concern that travelers have. We're concerned about anything that would discourage travelers from wanting to visit the United States. So just like with Canada, it's clear that we have work to do to get a message out that we seek these travelers. We want them bringing their spending here. We would be concerned about anything that would drive them to take their spending somewhere else.
▶ 1:13:44So with that lack of clarity at this point uh it is having an adverse impact on people coming to the US. There is significant anecdotal evidence. I think we need to see the data. We're still waiting on the data from the Department of Commerce to better understand what is happening. Uh but again we um we're on our toes. We see the concern that's out there.
▶ 1:14:05Uh and that leaves us obviously uh communicating to the administration uh and various agencies the need to provide travelers with the confidence uh that they desire. Thank you. Uh President Kelly, uh can you just describe uh for the committee uh the benefits of having a federalized workforce?
▶ 1:14:29So many and SCBA was negotiated by uh uh administrator Picowski who was appointed by uh President Trump. Uh he negotiated uh CBA that would bring about some stability inside of the workforce.
▶ 1:14:52Uh not only that, you know, you're free of any form of striking because if you uh had a private uh contractor, you know, they can unionize and go on strike any day. The federal system cannot strike. Do not talk about uh going on strike. Uh you talk about uh morale, high morale. We we we we've already shown that attrition rate went down, you know, about 50%.
▶ 1:15:18You know, and we will continue to see attrition rates go down when you have a unionized uh federal workforce. And you know, you have flexibility. See, and and that's the thing about uh that I like about uh the contract. It allows so much flexibility for the management to do what they need to do in the event of a crisis. So it is so many it's it's insurmountable of the benefits that would be for uh this uh TSA. Thank you very much.
▶ 1:15:46And uh uh you know TSA we created after 911 because the current protocol for screening virtually didn't exist uh before that. So uh it's the new kid on the block. uh we've been successful in not having as I indicated a successful uh uh person getting on a plane and and causing that that kind of crisis. But it's a work in progress. I mean with technology, Mr.
▶ 1:16:16Gruin, we still have to continue to uh uh be the as best we can. Our adversaries are constantly trying to figure out how they can beat the system. and in reality it's technology that's going to catch them. So I I look forward to continuing this discussion and uh I yield back, Mr. Chair. Thank you. We're going to go through a a second round of of questioning.
▶ 1:16:44I I yield myself five minutes for questioning. Um Mr. Freeman, you talked about um you talked about the visa process and how we can accelerate that. Could you be a little bit more specific exactly what you're talking about in order to accelerate the visa process and take it down from 300 days to something a little bit more reasonable? Yeah, there are multiple consults around the world right now. Colombia is the best example where wait times exceed 500 days to get an interview for a visa.
▶ 1:17:14We've had similar weight times in India. Uh in years past, we had weight times like that in Brazil where they've been successful recently and bring those weight times down. I think there there are several elements to this. One, we we simply have to establish a goal as a country. How how well do we want to process visas regardless of what the demand may be? Once we establish that goal, what's the tech what's the technique for getting there?
▶ 1:17:38Our proposal is to move things out of foreign service officers to create a new national vetting service where people apply for that job. They sign up for that job. That's what they want to do. Their job is to process visas that those uh employees are paid for by the fees that travelers pay when they apply for visas. There's no additional cost to US taxpayers. The key though is having individuals who actually desire to be in this role. It's what they signed up for.
▶ 1:18:08You don't get that today. You don't get that because you've got again people on the lowest rung of the totem pole. This is a job they don't want to do. In many parts around the world, um they're only doing one shift a day. they work from, you know, let's say 9 to 3 and the consulate closes. We've also got to get more creative in those situations. There are countries where we only have four or five consulates for countries as big as the United States. How do we get more creative in terms of how we then process those visas? Where does video conferencing come in?
▶ 1:18:37We've all learned the power and the limitations of video conferencing. How can that play a role when it comes to processing visas? Finally, when we look at the validity period of visas, visas that are good for 6 months or one year, is it possible to make those visas good for two years, when we have travelers who have come here, abided by our rules, left on time, can we allow their uh when their visa expires, can we allow rapid um reertification of that visa?
▶ 1:19:04There are a number of things that we can follow through if we simply have the will to do it. we establish a goal and we haven't and and I think this is a bipartisan challenge we've confronted. We just simply haven't had that zeal within the State Department or the leadership on Capitol Hill or or in the White House to demand that from the State Department. And if we did that, uh would you see an increase in travel?
▶ 1:19:28I visas for the 45% of our travelers who are required to get a visa, visa access is a bigger concern than the cost of travel. I think that tells us everything we need to know. It's not the cost of coming to the United States. It's the obstacle to getting the visa that is the biggest deterrent. Fair enough. Now, in terms of um and and and Representative Crane, you know, brought out, you know, a very good statistic.
▶ 1:19:55Um and it seems to me that technology has improved in the last 10 years. Has to, right? Um especially with the advent of of artificial Um, is there technology now that will self-identify threats and give cues to the to the TSA, you know, individual on the screen that said, "Hey, you need to look at this, this, this, and that." Uh, that would help, you know, reduce that 96%.
▶ 1:20:25Is that technology available now? There is significant technology available now that we're not using. Now when you look at elements of the TSA screening process, there's the identity verification, there's the person screening, there's the baggage screening. I think we've done very well on the identity verification as we've moved to biometrics. I think we have a lot of work to do when it comes to the baggage and the on-person screening of individuals. That's where we have the greatest room for growth. Do you have an estimate of how much that would cost?
▶ 1:20:54I believe we've looked at a figure in the neighborhood of I'm going to use the wrong figure so I don't want to mention it. do have that and are happy to give it to the committee. Okay. And so if we if we diverted if we stopped diverting the money uh how fast could we implement this these new technologies instead of 2040 which I think is a little bit too far out 20 years from now. Okay. Um and by then we'll have something else. Okay. So we need to get the technology right.
▶ 1:21:20It has to be modular so that as new technologies you know come and and gets more and more um the technology just gets better. Okay. that we need to be able to put that in as quickly as we can, not wait 20 years for that technology to be put in. So that 20 years hence there's something else. Okay. So how much how much you think we're going to need? We believe it's reasonable that all of these reforms could take place within the next 5 years. This is not something we need to look at decades out.
▶ 1:21:48Within the next 5 years, we can give every American traveler the confidence they can keep the water in their bottle, their belt on their on their pants, their laptop, and their bags. Fair enough. All right. Uh I yield back and I recognize gentle lady from uh from New Jersey. Thank you uh chairman. I just have one follow-up question and it's for Mr. Freeman.
▶ 1:22:08Um you during your opening uh statement even just now you talked about uh the United States and how you know if we want to be a global leader in travel we need to do you know X Y and Z. Do you currently consider the United States at the top of the uh list as a leader in global travel? The United States is the world's most desired nation to visit around the world. This is where travelers want to come.
▶ 1:22:33We commissioned a report through Euro Monitor uh about 18 months ago to rank countries based on their travel facilitation, based on their infrastructure, based on their national leadership. The US finished 17th out of 18 countries. Only China finished behind the United States. You are seeing greater coordination, greater spending, greater zeal in countries like Saudi and other parts of the world that recognize just how important travel is to building their economy.
▶ 1:23:03And they also recognize that travel doesn't happen by accident. It takes a heck of a lot of coordination. Takes a heck of a lot of planning to make these things happen. Every one of us in this room today are travelers. We all know the hassles with the process. We all know the inefficiencies. We all go through this and look at various points and say there's got to be a better way to do this. And the answer is there is. Do we have any desire to work together to implement those better ways?
▶ 1:23:31Because what we are dealing with today, whether at TSA, at customs, is not sustainable and it's not something we should be tolerating. And when was this report done that you This report was done in uh came out in early 2024. We're happy to get you a copy of that. Yeah, I would love a copy of that. Um, I just want to thank each of the witnesses for your testimony today and for uh coming to share with us.
▶ 1:23:54I know that this uh committee hearing is supposed to be about what we are, you know, examining ourselves on the global level to prepare for these big events, but there's just lots going on right now that I think we really need to address before we can talk about like being really prepared, being really really prepared um for uh all of the big events that we have coming up. So, thank you so much for all of the information that you provided today. Oh, with that, I yield back. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the ranking member.
▶ 1:24:24Now, I recognize the uh gentle lady from South Carolina, Miss Biggs. Thank you, Mr. chairman and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. As the United States gears up to welcome the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games, our national travel infrastructure stands at a crucial juncture demanding comprehensive readiness.
▶ 1:24:54The influx of international visitors for these events will place unprecedented demands on our transportation networks and border security. The recent executive order signed by President Trump creating the World Cup task force signifies a critical recognition of the imperative for seamless inter agency collaboration.
▶ 1:25:20This dedicated task force will be instrumental in strategically preparing our our ports of entry, modernizing airport facilities and operations, and fortifying supporting systems such as customs and border protection, security protocols, and transportation logistics. So to Mr. Freeman.
▶ 1:25:45How should the World Cup task force prioritize its efforts to address operational challenges at our airports and our ports of entry? Thank you for the question, Congresswoman. I think it's critical as the World Cup task force gets up and running that first we acknowledge we're already behind the eight-ball. Uh the World Cup starts in about 15 months. Uh other countries are already planning, you know, for the the 2029 World Cup. I'm sorry, the 2030 World Cup. that planning is already ahead of where we are.
▶ 1:26:15So, we've got to acknowledge acknowledge we're already behind the eightball. I have all the faith in the world in the local destinations that are hosting the World Cup. Uh they have been coordinating. I think they're going to do great a great job. The question really becomes when it in terms of getting people to the games, moving about the US and moving into the United States. I think for the domestic traveler, uh we're going to see concerns when it comes to moving people through the airports.
▶ 1:26:39The demand that we're going to see is basically a Thanksgiving every day uh for about the 45 days of the World Cup. We all know what it's like traveling on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. That's what we can expect. It begs the question, what are the things we can do to be more efficient during that period? And this task force is critical about aligning the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, and other relevant agencies to ensure we can meet that demand. for the foreign travelers coming in. The truth is we're already too late for some of them.
▶ 1:27:09I mentioned the wait times for Colombians to get a visa. If they don't have their visa now for the World Cup in 26, their windows closed. That's shame on us, right? That's opportunity missed for the United States. And then we've got to identify what are the other markets where that window is already closing and how do we process visas quickly in those markets so we can help those travelers get here. when we know they're coming.
▶ 1:27:30Customs will be the final area where this task force has to work closely with DHS, with other elements of the of the government to ensure that we don't have two, three, four hour wait times to get through Miami, to get through LAX, to get through JFK. That is a tremendous concern of ours. There is nothing more predictable than when a plane is going to land, how many people are on it, and who those people are. So there's no excuse to not be staffed appropriately to move these travelers through and that's where the task force needs to be focused.
▶ 1:28:01Thank you so much for your insight. Um my second question, Mr. Gruin, um with major international events acting as high-profile targets for bad actors. How how do you think the task force should integrate threat intelligence, inter agency coordination and emerging technologies like counter USA and AI enabled surveillance into the strategic planning? Thank you, Congresswoman.
▶ 1:28:30Uh your sec second point, technology needs to be procured and deployed now. So we recommend 12 months out from events to really get the um on the ground, get the personnel trained and run through different scenarios to mitigate threats. So we believe the task force needs to do that aspect.
▶ 1:28:55Part of that is also going to be authorities to enable local and state law enforcement to have the authorities to mitigate large threats such as drones uh when they're on the ground. So um again prioritizing that we are behind the power curve on this. We we need the task force to prioritize the procurement and deployment of technologies and the training of personnel so that we have adequate protection. Thank you so much.
▶ 1:29:23My time has expired, so I yield back. Thank you. And I recognize the uh the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Crane, for his second round of questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Gruin, I find your uh testimony and experience uh um very interesting and important um to this panel today. Um you you're a former Navy Seal, is that correct? Yes, Congressman. Um so you have a lot of background in unconventional warfare. I do.
▶ 1:29:52And now you're currently working um in the counter drone space. Correct. Have you spent any time overseas um in Ukraine? Yes. Yep. Do you feel that um Americans and our agencies understand the gravity of what's happening overseas and how it's transforming modern Not at a scale that's necessary.
▶ 1:30:15There certainly are pockets of individuals who are are aware of the threat and are working diligently to address it, but as a whole of nation, absolutely not. Do you believe that the US is prepared to protect its citizens and infrastructure from drone attacks and some of these major events that we're talking about coming up in the US? Not currently.
▶ 1:30:36Give us an idea of what that could look like, Uh it there's the the drone threat is so wide ranging that it's it is hard to sometimes grasp because you're have the kind of the obvious situation of a stadium where you may have DJI type drones you come into the stadium either drop powders um or be explosive in themselves and do actual physical damage uh to to the attendees.
▶ 1:31:05You also have a lot of um other types of operational scenarios like airports. If with all these folks that are trying to arrive, if you have a drone that goes and parks itself on a runway, the entire operation is going to shut down and it doesn't even have to explode. It can just sit there and you have already disrupted air travel to a level that we have not seen uh global not prepared for. Right. It's a lot easier to get some type of explosive into a stadium when a drone doesn't have to go through some magnetometer. Is that correct? Absolutely.
▶ 1:31:34It's really not that expensive either for our enemies to use drone warfare to attack us, is it? Absolutely not. Sir, you said uh I believe in your testimony that your company has been tasked to do counter drone operations around key US sites. Can you expound on that a little bit? Yes. Uh in we are working with the department of defense uh to do some initial base deployments.
▶ 1:31:57So um both Okonis and Konis in particular in response to the New York new New Jersey drone threats at the end of last year we're at Pikatini Arsenal now with an army program of record but we've also deployed to Steuart Air National Guard Base with a coalition of industry partners under Northcom and all to you know field the latest capabilities to really get both at the detection identification aspect and then have on hand mitigation capability.
▶ 1:32:27ility when Um, when you guys are doing these operations, are are we talking about um lonewolf bad actors? Are we talking about nation states that you guys are trying to prevent from flying over these sites? Uh, the scary part about this, Congressman, is we don't have good fidelity on that information. We know that there are drones of various sizes, so ones that cannot be easily procured off of an Amazon or an Alibaba.
▶ 1:32:56um you have larger drones uh and you have drones multiple drones at a time. So the fact that we don't know who's operating these drones is the real problem. Are drones being used right now within the US to conduct espionage? Absolutely. Absolutely. Can you expound on that anymore?
▶ 1:33:14Uh you know there there are um briefings from the government themselves at different classification levels but we know that there are uh other nation states or proxies that are operating near our borders and even particularly in the homeland uh sites.
▶ 1:33:33Most people probably aren't aware that the US capital police are currently using tariff regulation section 16.2.90 2.90 model rockets and boats to mitigate drone threats on capital grounds. Congress must do its part to properly equip Capitol Police. For that reason, on National Police Week, I plan to introduce the US Capital Police Empowerment Act of 2025 to authorize the US Capital Police to mitigate drone threats on the Capitol complex.
▶ 1:34:00The bill was drafted with input from the House Admin, Judiciary, Transportation, and Infrastructure, and Homeland Security Committees. Um, I'm hoping that everybody will support this bill as it should be um by Bartisan. I do have a video that I'd like to play of uh some of the drone capabilities from your company, Mr. Gruin. Now, Mr.
▶ 1:34:28drone, are we watching in real time your your uh company's drones being able to um shoot out nets and capture um enemy drones? Correct. Congressman, why is that so important, for the uh we we're called the low collateral effect interceptor inside government agencies because the the way you by catching with a net we either keep it under a tether and drop it somewhere that's been rendered safe where law enforcement can look at
▶ 1:34:58the drone get forensic etc. So, it's the collateral damage aspect. You're you're also not infringing on any uh publicly identifiable information. It's not hacking a signal. It's not getting personnel personal information off of anything. So, the combination of that, the the lack of PII and the low collateral is what makes it so impactful. Mr. Chairman, I know my time is expired, but I'd like to enter into the record um five separate articles. Without objection, so ordered.
▶ 1:35:30Um, I've got number one, US Bureau of Transportation Statistics prohibited items intercepted at airport screening checkpoints. Number two, Defense Daily TSA's own covert testing showed failures, DHSG says. Number three, ABC News, TSA fails most test in latest undercover operation at US airports. Number four, no drone zone, United States Capital Police. And number five, a copy of my bill, the USCP Empowerment Act of 2025. So ordered.
▶ 1:36:00Gentleman's time has expired. Um I now recognize the gentleoman from South Carolina for her second round of questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So TSA has made progress in deploying biometric screening, digital IDs, and automated security lanes, but outdated systems and workforce shortages still slow down those checkpoints.
▶ 1:36:26Republicans have long advocated for smart investments in innovative technologies that can improve the performance and reduce reliance on biological f federal workforces. So, Mr. Freeman, given TSA's growing use of AIdriven threat detection and facial recognition, how far are we from replacing outdated manual processes at checkpoints um with fully automated systems?
▶ 1:36:57Thank you, Congresswoman. I I think the first thing to acknowledge is what TSA has done well is give travelers around the country, no matter what airport they're at, a sense of not just security, but also a sense of consistency. The biggest thing that frustrates travelers is when you go through one airport, you have a different experience. When you go through another airport, TSA has ensured that we have that degree of consistency and we applaud them for it. Some of that consistency includes exactly what you're talking about. We're already moving towards more of that automated system.
▶ 1:37:26Uh we see some of that with the identity verification that's taking place. Uh we see that with digital ID that happens uh and is working with the airlines with Delta United with American. If you fly through Newark in Atlanta, some of these other major hubs, Detroit, you can go through the entire process just based on your facial biometrics. It's a wonderful experience. Uh it's incredibly efficient. Uh travelers are moving through in 7 seconds or less uh using that technology. So I think we're already there.
▶ 1:37:55The question is how quickly can we continue to build on this? How do we take it beyond the identity verification and use it for baggage screening, use it for individual screening? That's where there's so much more opportunity. I there's opportunities for the private sector to work more closely with TSA to help realize some of these opportunities. You know, there's so much debate about privatized sec TSA, not privatized TSA.
▶ 1:38:18What there is is a great opportunity for TSA, which has done some very good things, to work more closely with the private sector and really build a partnership here that can give travelers the experience they desire. Thank you. Uh just following up with that, do are there successful models abroad that the US should consider adapting uh to our aviation environment? There are absolutely lessons learned uh in the UK and other parts of the world.
▶ 1:38:44In fact, the report that we put out earlier this year referenced some of those lessons learned in foreign markets. I don't think there's one market that is the panacea for what we need to do, but there's a combination of lessons learned throughout Europe and in other parts of the world. We're happy to bring those forward. We document several of those in our proposal. And I think we just sometimes the US acts as if we're the first ones to confront these issues, as if we can't learn from some of our partners around the world. There's no need to reinvent the wheel here. There's some very good things that are done.
▶ 1:39:14Europe has made much further strides in terms of allowing people to bring liquids back onto planes to keep some of their their clothes on, their shoes and belts. We can learn from that. Uh and we're we're hopeful that new TSA leadership will be willing to do that. Thank you so much for your testimony and I yield back. Thank you to the gentleoman from um from South Carolina. Um, I want to thank the witnesses uh for their valuable testimony and also the members for their questions.
▶ 1:39:43The members of the subcommittee may have additional questions for the witnesses and we would ask the witnesses to respond to these in writing. Pursuant to committee rule 7E, the hearing record will be held open for 10 days. Without objection, this subcommittee stands adjourned. Me too.