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CNN Sunday Morning

Federal Government in Control of Airports

Aired February 17, 2002 - 11:05   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The Federal Government is now in charge of security at U.S. airports as of today. What if, or what rather will any of the travelers be experiencing with this change? CNN's Kathleen Koch joins us now with some answers from Washington's Dulles Airport. Hi there, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. Well they'll see no new security personnel, no new security measures. All the changes are taking place behind the scenes.

KOCH (voice over): Essentially, the Federal Government is taking over the contracts that the airlines have had for years with these private screening companies.

Now that means that in the short term, even problem plagued Argenbright Security that provides security here and in airports across the country, will still be in place.

Now the head of the agency taking over security flew into Dulles Airport here this morning. He met with some of those Argenbright employees, and he said the passengers should not be concerned about their performance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN MAGAW, UNDERSECRETARY FOR TRANSPORTATION SECURITY: It's like changing a company. You don't throw out the baby with the bath water. These are good people, and let's sort through and see those that, if there are those who need more training, or those who don't meet the standard, then we'll make those changes.

But it's like a company takeover, and it's, you know there's good people. There's a lot of good people there and we hope to employ them and retrain them into the federal system, those that meet the requirements.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: Now the first federal screeners will be in place at airports starting in April. All 40,000 of them are to be in place by November 19th. We spoke to some of the Argenbright screeners here this morning, and they said they are hopeful that they can get these new federal jobs, where they will be better trained, better paid, and have benefits. Back to you. WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Kathleen Koch reporting from Washington's Dulles Airport.

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