"Toxic" Morale "Crippling" Air Marshals

(CBS)  A "toxic" work environment created by bosses in the Federal Air Marshal Service is "crippling" the agency's efforts to keep skies safe, sources tell CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian.

"We talked to well more than a dozen current and former air marshals around the country," Keteyian said to co-anchor Harry Smith Monday, "and, certainly in their mind, the service is riddled with internal problems. (From the) top down -- supervisors, many of them white, male, ex-Secret Service agents, who have created a hostile atmosphere, work atmosphere, work environment inside many of the 21 field offices around the country. Intimidation, retaliation, discrimination against women, minorities, disabled, gays."

"And it's created a real atmosphere, a toxic atmosphere inside the agency that, in the belief of the people that we've talked to, has really crippled the agency from within."

More on Air Marshals from ProPublica

The service is, says Keteyian, "attracting really quality candidates in a lot of ways. The problem is retaining them. Once they get into this atmosphere, once they get into these field offices, there are lawsuits, EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) complaints across the country. The real problem now is being able to keep the qualified candidates because, we're being told, there's a mass exodus of really good agents.

The problems don't stop there, Keteyian adds.

The chances of a marshal being on the same flight as a terrorist are slim.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there are about 27,000 domestic and international flights per day but, airline industry insiders estimate, only some 3,000 - 4,000 air marshals, who spend half their time in the air.

Not only that but, according to the Transportation Security Administration, which includes the Air Marshal Service, the average air marshal flies 181 days a year -- or about 15 days per month, spending five hours per day in an aircraft.

There were no marshals aboard the plane involved in the attempted Christmas Day bombing of Northwest Flight 253.

After that terrorism try, President Obama ordered a "surge" in the number of air marshals on international flights.

How is that being accomplished? Keteyian says the service, in essence, moved many of its officers and teams over to international flights, forcing it to go out to six other federal agencies to accommodate its needs for domestic flights -- pulling people from places like the Coast Guard and Border Patrol to fill those roles.

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Keteyian will have much more on that on tonight's "CBS Evening News".

[pattjenks]

If you've got a toxic boss, report him to eBossWatch (www.ebosswatch.com). Let the world be his judge....

[FauxNews]

If they don't like their jobs, they don't need to whine about it. They can quit and find something they like. There are plenty of unemployed people that would love a cushy government job. The Air Traffic Controllers whined about their jobs and we replaced them all. My neighbor now makes over 100K as a Traffic Controller. It's time for Americans to stop whining and start working.

[methow]

As a former Federal Flight Deck Officer - the real and actual "last line of defense" against a hostile takeover of an airliner, I have to agree that many FAMS have told me the same thing, that the former Secret Service "double-dipping" managers are the worst thing to have happened to the profession. The FAMS I know are tremendous assets, dedicated and professional. But the job is not mentally challenging so over time many FAMS lose interest in the boring mission - preferring a challenge. It doesn't help when they are constantly battling the dimwit politicians like Napolitano who know nothing about security, are making policy. It is particularly troubling that it is -bad- policy as well. Good for the guys willing to step up and tell it like it is when they know good and well they will be hammered for it back at the office...

[FauxNews]

Wow, what a terrible job, sitting around all day while being pampered by stewardesses. And they are 10 times more likely to win the lottery than to see a terrorist. It's no wonder they have crippling morale problems.

[elizaj7923]

can't the media just SHUT UP!?! You publish all our faults (true or not) all our weak points (true or not) - it's almost like the media WANTS something bad to happen so they have something to report.... there are just some things the public should NOT know!

[denisegib]

As a former Secret Service agent who has profound respect for her former colleagues and supervisors, I think these anonymous "belly -achers" should be grateful to have a well paying job with good benefits in this current economic crisis. Frankly, were it not for 9/11 many of them would have lacked the education credentials to even qualify for a position in Federal law enforcement. Moreover, if they are so unhappy with their situation they should move on to greener pastures...this stay at home mom would gladly return to the work force and replace them!

[harryvince]

I too was a Federal Agent with experience in more than one agency and find your comment to smack of ignorance. You should return to work and in about three days you would discover how mistaken you are. The air marshals are by and large very qualified. These secret service retirees running the show have marginalized the credentials of any one from any other agency who may be more qualified than they are to do the job. As far as remaining anonymous the retaliation aspect mandates this and without "belly-achers" nothing would ever improve.

[erasmus111]

I guess the American media has to print EVERYTHING, huh?

I bet old Osama is jumping for joy over the chaos he's causing.

[olyboy]

Every government job is toxic to minorities because they are so used to the "free pass" affirmative action policies that once they get into a job where they have to actually perform, they file EEOC complaints against anyone they can to hide their lack of effort. I had a male minority file a complaint against an asian woman because she wouldnt' accept his half-hearted effort. He soon found out that she had a double on him as both a woman and an asian. Too bad. It's a joke and everyone knows it.

[finkfurst]

Maybe they will just shoot a few random Muslims to make themselves feel needed. There's no need to prove they were terrorists or anything, because the USA has shown time and time again that a suspicion is all that's needed to carry out a death sentence........ unless the suspect is an American of course!

[chatmandu7451]

Obviously this is an anti-air marshal service article. Using interviews from disgruntled employees. All minority groups claim discrimination and this is what this story focuses on. "Intimidation, retaliation, discrimination against women, minorities, disabled, gays." This sounds like the standard groups that always complains when they aren't performing up to standards. Of course you will only hear one side of these stories. I don't trust the Communist Broadcasting System (CBS) with giving you a complete report.