The U.S. government's Secure Flight passenger-screening program "is not ready for take-off," the American Civil Liberties Union said Monday.
In its review of the program, the Government Accountability Office effectively put a halt on the Transportation Security Administration's screening program, the ACLU said.
"The government itself found that Secure Flight is not ready for take-off and should be held at the gate," said Timothy Sparapani, an ACLU legislative counsel.
"This review, mandated by Congress, effectively stops the launch of Secure Flight," Sparapani said. "Of the 10 areas that Congress asked the GAO to evaluate, the TSA has only addressed one. Because so little progress has been made, the GAO cannot certify the program and TSA cannot launch Secure Flight."
TSA was expected to launch Secure Flight in August, but has not even addressed the identity theft problem or solved privacy concerns, the ACLU said.
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