From 2021 to 2024, over 1,000 suspected terrorists may have entered the United States under the current open border policy. Aviation remains a high-value target for potential attackers, and since 9/11, the Federal Air Marshal Service has been crucial in addressing this ongoing threat.
With an annual budget of $700 million to $800 million, the Federal Aviation Marshal Services has seen an investment exceeding $18 billion over the last two decades. Their role involves in-flight security, threat identification, and enhancing overall aviation safety. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of these measures hasn’t met expectations.
Under the management of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Air Marshal Service has diminished significantly. TSA policies have weakened the Air Marshals’ preparedness and compromised essential anti-terrorism initiatives. This has unfortunately left Air Marshals grounded, sacrificing their effectiveness. Redirecting resources away from the agency specifically designed to protect our aviation landscape is an ongoing mistake.
There’s a way forward that begins with removing the Air Marshals from TSA oversight.
Congress is currently drafting legislation aimed at liberating the Air Marshals from TSA’s constraints. Ongoing discussions focus on allowing the agency to move based on independent, aviation-specific needs.
- Develop targeted aviation intelligence
- Make aircraft harder targets for terrorists
- Investigate aviation-related crimes
- Enhance aviation sources and culture
Assigning intelligence operations to the Air Marshals based on proven data is crucial. Their unique position in federal law enforcement requires a different approach to intelligence than other agencies. The TSA has faltered here, as seen in the “quiet skies” scandal where Air Marshals were forced to follow protocols using unclear data from border control. Thankfully, a whistleblower brought this to light, leading to significant scrutiny and changes.
We really need a better strategy to complicate potential attacks on planes. While it’s not feasible to deploy enough Air Marshals on every commercial flight, alternatives should be explored. Allowing and training more pilots to carry weapons could help. It’s essential to educate flight crews on self-defense, promote counter-violence tactics, and ensure they receive ongoing training. Equipping federal agents with air combat tactics may also prepare them for potential scenarios.
Simply increasing the presence of Air Marshals and training isn’t a complete solution. Deterring terrorists starts with understanding their planning processes. We need to enhance Air Marshals’ investigative capabilities and make them a constant presence at airports. Criminal activities, whether smuggling drugs or explosives, share methods that require same-level scrutiny.
Historically, Air Marshals adhered to the highest shooting and tactical standards within federal law enforcement. My own journey as an Air Marshal followed my recovery efforts after 9/11; new agents underwent rigorous training, including physical conditioning and extensive firearms practice. Everyone was aware at 35,000 feet, no one was coming to save us.
Now, the standards of the Air Marshal Service have been significantly reduced to meet the minimums of basic federal agencies. For years, the TSA has opted for quantity over quality in hiring processes, often prioritizing diversity over ability. This has led to a decline in the culture and effectiveness of the Air Marshals. It’s high time to restore the stringent standards of the past since only skill and fitness matter in crisis situations.
Air Marshal missions are clear-cut: they exist to safeguard aircraft from terrorism. As long as the Air Marshal Service is part of a broader agency with multiple missions, the importance of their role will continue to be diluted. Fortunately, lawmakers are beginning to recognize these issues and are working toward creating independent agencies for federal aviation security.
A reset of the Federal Air Marshals is urgently needed. The threats are real, and time is running out.
John Casaretti is the founder and president of the Aviation Original S Association, representing over 4,000 current and former federal aviation professionals. He is a whistleblower who exposed the “quiet skies” program in 2018 and provided critical information to Congress and Tarsi Gabbard regarding surveillance activities. John also played a key role in exposing a FEMA scandal involving directives to Air Marshals in 2024.
