Almost all airports in the United States are owned and operated by state or local government entities. The Transportation Security Act of 2001 and the Homeland Security Act of 2002 imposed numerous new duties and responsibilities on airport owners and operators. Compliance with these new requirements has been both operationally and financially challenging for airports. Airport owners and operators have a unique knowledge of their particular facilities. The goal of protecting airport patrons from terrorist activities will only be achieved if there is a true partnership between the federal government and the state and local government entities which own and operate airports, resulting in a cooperative and coordinated approach to security.
