# Transportation Security Administration **Aliases:** TSA **Entity class:** Department of Homeland Security component ## Definition The **Transportation Security Administration** protects United States transportation systems through screening, regulation, intelligence, operations, training, and coordination across aviation and surface transportation. ## Relationships - **department:** [[wiki/United States Department of Homeland Security|DHS]]. - **operations center:** [[wiki/Transportation Security Operations Center|TSOC]]. - **training program:** [[wiki/First Observer Plus|First Observer Plus]]. - **source-program history:** DOJ OIG found at least eight TSA employees used as DEA confidential sources during FY2011–FY2015, raising policy and oversight concerns. ## Sources / Provenance - [TSA — Mission, accessed September 23, 2026](https://www.tsa.gov/about/tsa-mission) - [DOJ OIG — DEA Confidential Source Program, September 2016](https://oig.justice.gov/archives/reports/2016/a1633.pdf)