To the Point

Do We Still Need Air Marshals?

After September 11, federal marshals were assigned to ride on planes to reassure jittery passengers it was safe to fly. Fourteen years later, some Congress members — and some of the marshals themselves — are asking if they’re really necessary.

By Warren Olney • Oct 20, 2015 • 9m Listen

After September 11, federal marshals were assigned to ride on planes to reassure jittery passengers it was safe to fly. Fourteen years later, some Congress members — and some of the marshals themselves — are asking if they’re really necessary.

Security technologist Bruce Schneier, who is a fellow at Harvard's Berkman Center for the Internet and Society, offers some thoughts on the program that has cost taxpayers $9 billion over the past ten years.

Warren Olney
former KCRW broadcaster
Sarah Sweeney
Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW
Paul von Zielbauer
Co-founder of Geezer magazine, former producer for To the Point and Which Way LA?; former reporter for the New York Times
Gideon Brower
Independent Producer
Bruce Schneier
Harvard Berkman Center for Internet & Society

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To the Point

Do We Still Need Air Marshals?

After September 11, federal marshals were assigned to ride on planes to reassure jittery passengers it was safe to fly. Fourteen years later, some Congress members — and some of the marshals themselves — are asking if they’re really necessary.

Share

To the Point

Do We Still Need Air Marshals?

After September 11, federal marshals were assigned to ride on planes to reassure jittery passengers it was safe to fly. Fourteen years later, some Congress members — and some of the marshals themselves — are asking if they’re really necessary.

Share