Private screeners now cost 3% more than federal, not 17%

US Government Accountability Office announced using private screeners at airports would cost just 3% more than federal screeners, as opposed to the 17% more first estimated in 2007 (Washington Post, 11-Mar-2011). The agency stated the updated estimate accounts for the potential cost of overlapping administrative personnel, passenger and baggage costs, workers' compensation, insurance and retirement expenses. Under a programme run by Transportation Security Administration, 16 airports have been using private screeners. The programme was suspended in Jan-2011 by TSA head John Pistole.