Just when plentiful cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages delighted the average traveler, disturbing news has been uncovered by CNN regarding the state of the U.S. air marshal program. Air marshals are complaining that the service is suffering from cronyism, discrimination and a lack of professionalism.
CNN interviews with over a dozen air marshals from across the country revealed the marshals see their agency full of age, gender and racial discrimination and that their managers are padding numbers to make the agency seem more competent than it is. Those interviewed were promised anonymity because they feared retaliation.
An additional $85 million was requested last week by President Obama to fund additional marshals being placed on planes.
International flights are seen as being the greatest terrorist targets. However, air marshals continue to be assigned to short, regional domestic routes. A large number of short haul flights make the agency look more efficient on paper.
Instead of security concerns determining which marshals fly on which international flights these decisions are being motivated by extra pay for managers, and office politics, according to those marshals interviewed. Traveling on international routes is seen as a perk with managers and favored employees generally the ones assigned such routes.
The number of actual air marshals has never been released, though experts believe that fewer than 4,000 marshals cover 28,000 flights per day.