“Until we have a permanent security system in place to prevent another September 11th, we need to investigate all solutions to provide an additional layer of security for the flying public.  What we do not need, however, is an untested bloated program with unidentified risks that increases the already strained federal budget,” stated Millender-McDonald.  “Yesterday, instead of passing the bipartisan pilot program to arm 250-1,400 commercial pilots, and study its effectiveness over a two-year period, the Majority passed a bill allowing all 70,000 pilots to be armed on all commercial flights within two months of enactment without requiring research to address the substantial risks involved.”

According to the original bipartisan bill, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) would provide a vigorous training program and monitor the armed pilots during a 2-year test period.  At the end of the 2-year test period, the TSA would then decide whether to continue, terminate or expand the program.  In addition, within 4 months of enactment, the TSA would have been required to conduct a study regarding the risk, if any, that a misfire in the cockpit will result in a catastrophic event. 

The new bill abolishes the original 2-year test period and makes arming pilots a permanent program.  Moreover, should any unfortunate incidents occur related to arming pilots, the TSA would be powerless to terminate the program.   The new bill also strikes the limitation on the number of pilots that can be sent through the pilot program.  As the government is picking up the $7,000 cost for the training of each pilot, the original bill would have cost no more than $9,800,000, as opposed to nearly $500,000,000 for the amended bill.