Passenger Rail Security: Enhanced Federal Leadership Needed to Prioritize and Guide Security Efforts

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent agency that works for Congress. The GAO watches over Congress, and investigates how the federal government spends taxpayers dollars. The Comptroller General of the United States is the leader of the GAO, and is appointed to a 15-year term by the U.S. President. The GAO wants to support Congress, while at the same time doing right by the citizens of the United States. They audit, investigate, perform analyses, issue legal decisions and report anything that the government is doing. This is one of their reports.

The U.S. passenger rail system is a vital component of the nation's transportation infrastructure, carrying more than 11 million passengers each weekday. The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) & the Dept. of Transportation share responsibility for ensuring the safety & security of rail systems. This report addressed: (1) DHS actions to assess the risks to the U.S. passenger rail system in the context of prevailing risk management principles; (2) fed. actions taken to enhance the security of the U.S. passenger rail system; & (3) security practices that domestic & selected foreign passenger rail operators have implemented. Also, test'y. of Cathleen Berrick, Dir. Homeland Sec. & Justice Issues, GAO. Charts & tables.