Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

DOT Vows to Cut Ties to Argenbright Security

Aired February 07, 2002 - 05:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The government has not gotten a handle on airport security yet, despite many new safety measures. Example, the Department of Transportation has vowed to cut ties with the Argenbright Security company that has failed to prevent several security breaches.

But as CNN's Jeanne Meserve reports, the company is still screening bags at major airports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Argenbright employs 40 percent of the aviation screeners in the country and has been smack in the middle of the debate over airport security. It has admitted putting felons in security positions. Investigators say it has used untrained personnel.

In November, Argenbright employees cleared a man through security in Chicago, even though he was carrying seven knives, a stun gun and a box labeled, "tear gas." And just last week, at San Francisco's airport, thousands had to be re-screened because an Argenbright employee let a man with what appeared to be explosive residue on his shoes slip away.

DAVID STEMPLER, PRESIDENT AIR TRAVELERS ASSOCIATION: Well, look, Argenbright is the Enron of airline security. They have failed us at every turn.

MESERVE: Now the Department of Transportation says it will no longer do business with the company. In the words of a department spokesman, "Let there be no ambiguity, they are finished with the federal government." Despite the dramatic statement, Argenbright will still do screening at 15 airports for several months.

Congress mandated that the federal government take over airport security, but it doesn't have enough screeners hired and trained. And so in the short term, the government will rely on private security firms. But at 15 airports, including Washington Dulles, Denver and Orlando, there is no security firm but Argenbright. Because the DOT is now refusing to work with the company, Argenbright will contract with the airlines, not the government.

DOT says it will put a priority on switching to federal screeners at those airports, and until that happens, there will be federal employees at every checkpoint supervising Argenbright personnel. Argenbright says it will "cooperate" to "minimize disruption to the airlines and their customers."

(on camera): Argenbright claims the impact on business will be minimal, because it has known for months it was going to be phased out of airport security. And as for Argenbright employees, they can apply for some of those federal screening positions.

Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com