Statement In Response To DHS IG Report On TSA Awards Ceremony

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   –  October 14, 2004
TSA Press Office: (571) 227-2829

"As the DHS IG report acknowledges, TSA followed all OPM policies and contracting procedures for the Awards Ceremony. Similarly, the IG found no irregularities in TSA's cash performance awards. In both cases, the awards reflect work for a two-year period, which includes the timeframe when the agency was stood up.  Given the hours and productivity of the workforce during this critical period, TSA believes the award expenditures were fully justified.

Please note that this year TSA will conduct field focused awards ceremonies at individual airports while also conducting a much smaller and less expensive headquarters awards event in November 2004."

Mark O. Hatfield, Jr.
Director of Communications and Public Information
Transportation Security Administration