A new agency created by the Patriot Act of 2001 for the purpose of overseeing technology and security in American airports. The TSA, hoping to save 20 seconds per passenter, finally put an end to the question about the strangers handling their luggage. The TSA had been authorised to hire no more than 48,000 but hired over 54,000 and has promised to eliminate 6,000 screeners through attrition.