Washington, D.C. – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today criticized an earmark in the fiscal 2006 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 2360) which would hand management of a homeland security program to a group that represents the interests of airports.

“Congress needs to scrutinize this troubling information,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “Handing over a critical security program to an inexperienced airport group risks further delays and higher costs.”

The earmark mandates that the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) – an Alexandria, Va.-based association that lobbies Congress on behalf of its members – manage the collection of data from millions of transportation workers who will be required to hold a Transportation Worker ID Credential (TWIC).  The program has already cost taxpayers millions to design, prototype, test, and operate.

According to federal election records, the AAAE and its allies have given more than $17,000 to Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.  Media stories have reported Rep. Rogers’ participation in annual junkets to Hawaii sponsored by the association.

“The earmarking process allows abuse in many different forms.  Congress needs to end this political favoritism and mandate an open and competitive process to choose the most effective vendor to implement TWIC,” Schatz said.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.