Transportation Security Administration officials, along with officials of the contractor which performs passenger screening at San Francisco International Airport, compromised covert security testing by warning checkpoint screeners when a test was about to take place, a government audit found.

A report (PDF) by the Homeland Security Office of Inspector General dated October 26 and released Thursday said that TSA workers acting in collusion with employees of Covenant Aviation Security compromised “covert security testing between August 2003 and May 2004 by tracking testers throughout the airport via surveillance cameras and on foot” and then notifying checkpoint screeners when a tester was about to approach the checkpoint.

The report confirms allegations of a CAS employee who said he was fired in 2004 after refusing to participate in the scheme and notifying TSA management. That whistleblower, Gene Bencomo, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in February 2005.

“TSA and the contractor issued directives in May 2004 to stop all activity that could compromise the integrity of covert security testing,” the report said. “TSA management at SFO issued another protocol in January 2005 that prohibits any notification to screening checkpoints that covert testing is being conducted.”

I guess that was good enough.

The TSA asked the inspector general’s office to investigate after it received the whistle-blower’s letter. TSA spokesman Nico Melendez said the agency disciplined some employees but considers the matter closed. . . .

The TSA last month awarded Covenant a four-year contract worth more than $300 million to continue screening at the airport.

“We have confidence in their ability to do their job and think they are doing a good job,” Melendez said. — Associated Press

“How is the public expected to have any confidence in the screening systems when managers game the system?” said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee.