TSA officers do not have police authority and must summon local officers when issues arise. “These are important programs,” said the former DHS official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly. The budget proposal does not appear to reduce the number of TSA officers assigned to airport security checkpoints. Commonly known as the VIPR program (for Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams), its intent is to create a highly visible police presence. For example, VIPR teams were deployed to Reagan National Airport, Dulles International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport, Amtrak’s Union Station and the Washington Metro system to guard against terrorist attacks during Trump’s inauguration.

Source: Washington Post March 16, 2017 15:13 UTC