Air Marshal Service to close six locations
The Federal Air Marshal Service is poised for cutbacks with six field offices due to close over the next two years.
According to a CBS news report, an email was sent to staff by Federal Air Marshal Director Robert Bray detailing the proposed closure program.
Field offices in San Diego and Tampa will close this year, followed by Pittsburgh and Phoenix by June 2015, and Cleveland and Cincinnati offices the following year.
The email also said offices in Las Vegas, Seattle, and Denver will be "assessed regularly from the perspective of risk, intelligence, and industry trends."
Federal air marshals travel incognito on US domestic and international flights to prevent terrorism.
For security reasons the number of operational air marshals is not disclosed by the government but there are currently 26 locations staffed by air marshals around the country, sited close to airport hubs.
Director Bray said the service’s operational budget had been reduced from $966 million to $805 million over the last three years which has driven "a number of efficiency measures."
He also said the safety of air travelers would not be compromised.
This is not a view held by the National Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents air marshals.
The Association’s president John Adler said: "It creates an unnecessary air travel vulnerability that may create opportunities for criminals to exploit."
Adler also said he had received calls from worried air marshals concerned about their job security.
The Transportation Security Administration said there would be no compulsory job losses and affected agents would be relocated to other cities.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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