49 U.S.C. § 44904: Domestic air transportation system security

The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation jointly shall assess current and potential threats to the domestic air transportation system. The assessment shall include consideration of the extent to which there are individuals with the capability and intent to carry out terrorist or related unlawful acts against that system and the ways in which those individuals might carry out those acts. The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and the Director jointly shall decide on and carry out the most effective method for continuous analysis and monitoring of security threats to that system. the adequacy of security procedures related to the handling and transportation of checked baggage and cargo; space requirements for security personnel and equipment; separation of screened and unscreened passengers, baggage, and cargo; separation of the controlled and uncontrolled areas of airport facilities; and coordination of the activities of security personnel of the Transportation Security Administration, the United States Customs Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and air carriers, and of other law enforcement personnel. establish a damage mitigation and recovery plan for the aviation system in the event of a terrorist attack; and include a threat matrix document that outlines each threat to the United States civil aviation system and the corresponding layers of security in place to address such threat. The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall issue operational criteria to protect airport infrastructure and operations against the threats identified in the plans prepared under section 114(s)(1) and shall approve best practices guidelines for airport assets. The Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration shall take necessary actions to improve domestic air transportation security by correcting any deficiencies in that security discovered in the assessments, analyses, and monitoring carried out under this section.