This is just another case of how the Bush administration's lack of accountability to Congress and the American people, that power left unchecked will eventually lead to the distruction of a democracy!
Can't wait until November until the Democrats finally take over both houses of Congress and the over sight so sorely needed can be accomplished and the impeachment can begin!

So what's new?

Bush sits on his hands as millions of illegals invaded America.. while at the same time, turning the federal intelligence agencies loose on Mr. and Mrs. America.

What a sad thing for America that at this critical juncture in our history, when we needed the best, we elected the worst.

the system is the same as the others...why be right, proper and informative.

The day of reckoning has arrived for the senior management of the Federal Air Marshal Service. This agency is the most corrupt federal agency that has ever existed in the history of our government, and now their cronyism and criminal acts are about to be exposed.

Federal agencies need to remind themselvs of who they answer to- the public. What we want from them is attack dog performance and guide dog obedience. They also suffer from short term planning, no idea what they want in the future.

As a former Air Marshal I will attest to the blatant disregard for policy, law, civil rights and the welfare of the air marshals who leave their families and put their lives on the line each and every day.

They are notorious for violating USERRA law, age discrimination, disability discrimination and retaliating against anyone who questions their illegal activities.

If Congress or the people knew the truth…basically there is so much intra-agency corruption the people cannot handle the truth. It would be too unbelievable. But just ask any of the dozens of Air Marshals who were suspended or terminated for asking questions or whistle blowing.

Even new Air Marshals, who came over from other agencies and had career tenure, were mandated to waive their appeal rights and submit to a new, extended, probationary period regardless of career tenure status. If they did not agree to waive their tenure, they were sent home unemployed. They were ineligible for unemployment as they were processed as a resignation.

Perhaps someone on the Homeland Security Oversight Committee will look into this and make all these dedicated men and women who were wrongfully terminated whole again.

Many air marshals lost their careers, retirements, families, etc. due to the ongoing campaign of harassment and retaliation. We, as a country, owe it to them to make things right!

The Secret Service is like a disease. It has taken over the Air Marshal Program and has left it soft and weak. The USSS cronyism needs to go for the agency to survive. Do the taxpayers know that these guys make over $200,000 per year??

Now let me get this straight. Air Marshall bosses accused of arrogance and cover-up, the #3 at CIA is in trouble, and we can trust the NSA with our phone records?

This action should not suprise anyone for it happens thoughout govt and did so for me in the intel community....I could put up with infantal management with individuals half my age or retire. I chose retirement and now you can see massive brain drain. Good luck to all for you are going to need it. Thank you.

Sorry, I haven't heard any facts yet. Who's pointing fingers at who?! This just sounds like "waaaahhh, their attitude stinks, so therefore, they are corrupt..." Who punished the Air Marshals for addressing questions? What are the facts? And why as usual is it Bush's fault?

The federal government needs to seriously reconsider allowing armed officers onboard aircraft. I’d rather have armed officers on the ground preventing terrorists and bombs from getting on the plane instead of officers vulnerable to an ambush during flight and to have their weapons used against them.

Time to mandate that all U.S. cockpits mount shotguns with buckshot. I am less worried of getting buck-shot sprayed into the cabin than a terrorist executing flight crews with an air marshal’s large caliber handgun.

If a terrorist gets past the passengers and tried to force himself into the cockpit, he will get a close contact fire of buckshot from a pilot.

Spend the money and install metal cable barriers (like United Airlines uses) so that when pilots need to open the cockpit door during flight to relieve themselves in the forward lavatory, a terrorist won’t rush the cockpit and lock himself inside.

So what's new? This entire administration is all about cronyism and corruption. "America for Sale" is the NeoCon way, all off the backs of, and at the expense of, the American working man. Bush is a fool if there ever was one, and one of the great liars of all time. Nothing shocks me that he does anymore. I warned everyone I know about him well before he ran for President, but no one listened to me. Here is a huge national security issue (Air Marshals) being mishandled and taken for granted that surely someone else is taking care of things the way the should be taken care of...(sound familiar Gulf Coast residents?). Bush talks a lot of crap about the war on terror and securing our nation, but everything he does compromises national security either through his many and various conflicts of special interests, or through his outright stupidity and ineptitude. He will go down in history as one of, if not the, worst President this country has ever seen. He couldn't hand over our ports' security to his fine Arab friends (our valued allies in the war on terror...is it not obvious, by now that he takes the American people for fools?) at Dubai so he found something else to give them too. What is that all about? Would it have anything to do with the fact that their IPO is just around the corner? Are these people just more Bush cronies? Yes Bush is all about fighting terror and securing our nation, but yet he wants to hand over our security to a bunch of Arabs? He is a traitor as well as an idiot. He is so inadequate as a leader it is a real tragedy that we are saddled with this man as out President. It will take decades and a miracle to get us out of the massive deficit he created too while he is out on the lecture circuit getting millions to give speeches and what ever else he has planned for himself after thoroughly wrecking this country.

To the person who did not understand why any of this is President Bush's fault. Bush is the President of the United States of America, not some guy in the mailroom. Maybe you have never heard the quote from a real President, Harry Truman, " The Buck Stop's Here." When you are the President, like the CEO of a company, you are the person in charge. He has hired most of the people running these organizations. Its his job to fix these things but he cant. The man is a pitiful excuse for a leader and embarrassment to this Country

I think it would be a good idea for more people to travel on the surface rather than fly. For one thing we would be less used to being shoved around at the airport, a process which desensitises us to government abuse, and it would reduce the general level of paranoia, thus lessening the adminsitration's influence.

This is public corruption in it's purest form. The american public will be shocked and angry.

This is what happens when a Govt. becomes tyrannical. Our Constitution has not delegated specific authority to the Federal Govt to have this or even a Dept of Transportation. The Commerce Clause has been atrociously misconstrued. Any security on an airplane should be provided by the airlines not the Govt. They don't care about your God given rights because they think they are god.
-Corporal of Marines

If rank and file Air Marshals were not so afraid to speak, this corruption would end overnight. Cronyism and corruption has beat down most of the fine men trying to make a positive difference. The arrogance, disgraceful conduct, and stupidity of FAMS management is astounding. Please pray for the Air Marshals staying in their jobs despite the total lack of leadership and trying to do their jobs with integrity while being surrounded by fraud.

We need a revolution in this country. Lame-duck Bush and the Congress are all crooks and represent no one but themselves. This issue with the air marshalls is yet another example of waste and inefficiency that taxpayers have to endure. The electorate needs to wise up and demand accountability for the actions of our leaders.

As a former Marshal I can say that many of the highly qualified agents left because of the poor attitude of higher management who were just collecting double pay checks. In the beginning we had top canidates, now numbers are drifting... its sad that it took so long.

The real tragedy is that half of America actually believed that he was a decent human being who really wanted to do good. He is a loser with no morals! We will now legally allow the illegial mexicans workers to live here, work here ( no taxes) and drive (when they dont know a lick on english and cant read one road sign) and still the decent gays cant even get a break. Imagine that! Illegial Mexican workers have more rights than a hard working, law abiding, tax paying A
America citizen. But that is BUSH.

I personally know of these abuses firsthand and am one of the many Federal Air marshals that were retaliated against for speaking up and out. I have since been terminated on false grounds, while all of the inept cronies are put into key positions and exonerated of their egregious acts. The Management of the FAMs has created an environment of tyranny, discrimination, criminal behavior, gross mismanagement, and abuse of authority.

I am glad that it is coming to light, but what I cannot figure out is how the House Judiciary Committee knows this and has yet to hold anyone accountable. FAM management, largely comprised of retired US Secret Service Agents that are double dipping on taxpayers money, and they are some of the most politically well connected and corrupt bunch of thieves and criminals I have ever witnessed in government service. They flaunt the fact that they are politically well connected and have other members (retired USSS) slowly taking over as the heads of other federal law enforcement agencies.

They brag about how they will never be able to be convicted of any wrongdoing because their buddies are in charge of many of the OIG Agencies charged with investigating their actions. They have intimidated FAM into being quiet at the risk losing their livelihoods if they do not play along. They have enforced their threats by making examples of those that have spoken out anyway. They have hidden countless scandals and problems within the service by blatantly lying to congress and any other investigative agency and targeting whistleblowers.

They have hidden the fact that there are endless medical problems for flying FAMs, due to poor management, failure to follow proper aviation medical guidelines, and an overt effort to hide this fact. They have falsified official documents and threatened or fired FAMs that go on record about their health issues forcing many to fly sick. Some of these injuries are life-threatening; some are leaving FAMs in danger of permanent loss of physical function as they are being forced by management to fly despite their injuries and illnesses.

There have been countless assaults against FAMs by management. Most have gone unreported as the assaulted FAM fears being ousted as his complaints will only infuriate management and fall on deaf ears because of managements political connections.

FAM managers are falsifying their time and attendance sheets and using government vehicles for unauthorized reasons like going to buy lottery tickets, having affairs with civilian office staff, or to baseball games. FAM managers are crashing government vehicles and not reporting it, but having the vehicles fixed on their own illegally without reporting it.

Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg. I will not hold my breath on whether anything is REAL is done by Congress. I hope that the men and women of the Federal Air Marshal service that have given up their careers in other agencies Post 9/11to become FAMs, because they believed in the mission and wanted to truly serve the American People in the best way they could, are given Justice and the Whistleblowers get Vindication.

I don't know that much about the Air Marshal program, but it sounds as if the Texas (& southern in general) good-ol' boy system is alive and well in this administration. What I really want to know is WHY the news Media and some of you refer to our current war as the "war on terror"? Saddam (altho a bad, bad guy)had nothing to do with 9/11, none of the hijackers were Iraqi, we should have continued to search for and execute the REAL leader of the terrorists (Osama bin-hidin') instead of let Cheney & Co (the real power behind the throne) plan and pursue this war. I haven't lost a son like Cindy S., but I notice that her initial question of "Why?" are our children giving their lives, has still not been answered.

Mike, Your comment was as follows:

Sorry, I haven't heard any facts yet. Who's pointing fingers at who?! This just sounds like "waaaahhh, their attitude stinks, so therefore, they are corrupt..." Who punished the Air Marshals for addressing questions? What are the facts?
And why as usual is it Bush's fault?

I can say that I was sexually harassed by another employee via email (in black and white)over our "secure" domain and was told it would not be investigated.

A FAM manager cost the FAM Service over a 1/2 million dollars for his harassement to a subordinate and he never spent one day on suspension, nor lost his duty weapon and credentials and was never investigated. The Service just payed the employee. Your tax dollars!!!

I am currently employed with the FAM service and have documents to prove the illegal changing of timesheets by management (an official signed document by an employee).

I also have documents proving forged medical documents by medical staff just to keep a FAM flying.

Should I continue? They are breaking laws and policies daily.

When reported to IA (Internal Affairs, also retired Secret Service Agents) they stated the management did nothing wrong. The investigation took less than two weeks.

When we have issues concerning our safety and the flying public, we are told to "shut up and deal with it or find another job". Keep in mind we are out there every day, they are not and we want everyone to be safe.

Managers have made racial slurs using the "N" word and it was never investigated.

I'm sure you will see other issues as the FAMS hear of this post.

When does it stop and who will stop the constant harassement to all of us.

I also have other issues but do not wish to post them at this time.

Isn’t the adult, intelligent thing to do is to read the report first before starting to blame and crucify someone for the errors? I am getting just as tired of the media jumping the gun and trying to “direct/spin” public opinion as I am of the repeated lapse of responsible job performance by government employees – and that included all the politicians – Dem. Rep, or whatever they call themselves. It is impossible for only one man to be responsible for all the ills of government when we as a people repeatedly elect numerous individuals who are not qualified to perform the job in the first place and give them the power to control our lives through legislation as the mood hits them. Some call it politics – I call it “look in the mirror for the 1st person to blame” when things go wrong. If we all do our jobs – and abide by the laws already passed - a lot of the problems we deal with now on a daily basis would not be – would not have been created, will not be covered up, not spinned, not lied about, and we as a people would not have them to deal with each morning. It is time that all the name calling stops – and responsibility for our actions be accepted by all.

The problem is they transfered a managment team from the Secret Service an agency that had so much trouble with a us and them mentality. The thing is the team was ready for retirement and did so and took on another job, but did not keep up with the 20th Century Changes.

Time to get rid of these managers, when public affairs tells lies to the public and lies to his superiors and those who works around him, what is his words worth?

Retaliation umm torture for many, psychological warfare should have been their major! But they appear to be dazed and confused as they are using it on their own guys.

This is the most corrupt administration in the history of the US. Bush and his cronies have scooped up unmeasured power to control almost every aspect of American life. Surely the American people should have a clear understanding of why our kids are dying everyday in Iraq. The arrogance and corruption of this administration is something that history will judge very harshly. When the "Cold War" was going on the USSR was the villian of the world. It didn't take but one ignorant man from Texas to transfer that title to the US.

I am glad to see that this issue is finally coming to light. It is time that Congress acts upon this and removes all of the Secret Service cronies and investigates them and their activities. Why is it that these individuals were brought out of retirement to make over $200,000 each with NO KNOWLEDGE about the position to serve as supervisors and management personnel ? The salary for one of these cronys is enough to pay for three new active supervisors to replace them. Meanwhile you had qualified experienced active law enforcement and military veterans with extensive experience and superior educations like Masters and Doctorate degrees. Lets face the crony system runs the agency into the ground and the persons with the actual work experience continue to leave in droves, oh and TSA is worried about a high screener turn over? They need to dedicate the resources to keeping their experienced personnel in place by developing a career track and eliminating the waste associated witht the secret service cronys.

I'm just curious -- you current "marshals" and former air marshals -- are you by any chance union? Just wondered. Also, I don't know of many federal employees, even those of long tenure and high grade pay, who make 200K/yr. Get your facts straight! And, just so there's no confusion, a federal marshal and air marshal are NOT the same thing. Marshals are under the Dept of Justice and an air marshal would know the difference!

I congratulate Brian Ross,ABC News'Chief Investigative Correspondent, for bringing to light what we have not been able to do for fear of retaliation. Unfortunately, there are still individuals, such as "Sonya" posting dated May 16,2006, which believe we are simply whining and cannot provide proof. We can, and many have provided proof despite retaliations, but the corrupt agency officials have sealed the drum tight by marking ALL information as Official Use Only which its release would ensure our termination. The retired Secret Service officials who manage the FAM Service have the same ethics as many of the ENRON officials, the difference is that in the corporate world the criminals are indicted, but in the higharchy of government the "buddies" are allowed to simply retire (again). Once these officials retire (again), they take with them their large bonuses, but leave the taxpayers with the burden of paying for the many lawsuits these selfish individuals have prompted. If the general public really knew how alive and well the "good ol' boy" system is in government (regardless of party affliations), they would demand to know the entire truth behind the scandals.
Just ask yourselves, how did retired Secret Service Agents(seeking a second retirement) get control of the FAM Service and many of the OIG offices which investigate corruption allegations?
Thanks to the American public who is willing to listen and support those who cannot defend themselves.

As a former Federal Air Marshal and current Police Detective and Candidate for County Sheriff, I can say the Federal Air Marshal Service is actually become a criminal organization. Inexperienced management from the U.S. Secret Service, another agency plagued with internal corruption and extreme mismanagement has infected the heart and soul of the working Federal Air Marshal. The Federal Air Marshal Service whose ranks initially included Special Operators from the Armed Forces, Federal Agents, State Patrol Officers, and Police Swat team members is now comprised of former Prison Guards, Security Officers, and TSA Security Screeners. The Federal Air Marshal managers are all retired U.S. Secret Service with a direct connection to the oval office. They are known for protecting the President and Vice President, then looking the other way when they see criminal conduct rather then reporting the abuse. They have brought that mentality to the Federal Air Marshal Service and destroyed what could have been an elite law enforcement agency. Former Federal Air Marshal Director Thomas Quinn was directly linked to the Saudi Royal family and also ran his own private security business while employed by the Federal Air Marshals. I applaud Congress for investigating the Federal Air Marshals and look forward to criminal charges against Federal Air Marshal managers for crimes including Gross Malfeasance, Embezzlement, Theft of Government Property, and Contract Fraud to name a few.

The time has come to shine a little more light into some of the other dark corners of the Federal Air Marshal Service's senior management. John Magaw is the first person that should be looked at if one wants to understand how things got so bad at the Federal Air Marshal Service. John Magaw was the man appointed to lead and build up the newly established Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and its enforcement arm: The Federal Air Marshal Service. Few people understand that the Federal Air Marshal Service started out as a division of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Civil Aviation Security.

When the TSA was created, the Air Marshals were removed from the FAA and placed under Magaw. This is where the problems started. In June of 2002 there were several short articles in USA Today about how the TSA and Magaw had “watered down” the stringent FAA hiring and training standards that had made the US Federal Air Marshals one of the most proficient and effective anti-terrorist organizations in the world.

Later, there were more articles about how the firearms standards for the Air Marshals had been lowered in order to meet a requirement for X number of Air Marshals by X date. Why all the problems all of a sudden? The answer is so ironic and simple, it’s almost hard to believe: The Air Marshal Service had been hijacked by a “good old boy network” composed of former and retired US Secret Service agents.

Before we continue, lets clarify a few things. In 2004, the House Judiciary Committee created the first real legislative definition of “Federal Air Marshal” when they began their investigation into the troubled service. They defined a Federal Air Marshal as a Federal law enforcement officer who is 1) Specially and specifically trained for the mission of preventing and stopping aircraft piracy; and 2) Performs those duties, and only those duties, on board an aircraft full time.

This means that other cross-trained Federal law enforcement officers in travel status, including regular Secret Service Agents flying in travel status, cannot and will not be considered to be “Federal Air Marshals” while they are flying on an aircraft. This is important because Quinn, Byers & Company have been padding and hiding the actual numbers of Federal Air Marshals from US Congressional lawmakers by including some or all of the “other” categories of flying federal law enforcement officers, into the total number of actual Federal Air Marshals, including the actual numbers of daily flights that they protect.

Another important fact is that the members of the executive management of the Federal Air Marshal Service belong to a Federal employment category known as the Senior Executive Service (SES). They are Federal appointee managers. These managers have never attended the specific and special air marshal training academies, nor do their duties involve flying on board aircraft full time. They consider themselves to be better than the “rank and file” air marshals, and they have refered to the rank and file air marshals as “bottom feeders” and “amateurs”.

They have also removed themselves from any entitlement to the anonymity and protections provided to Federal Air Marshals by the 2004 Intelligence Reform Bill, because Director Quinn issued internal memorandums stating that the 2004 Intelligence Reform Bill did not apply to Federal Air Marshals (even though the parts of the legislation were specifically created for the Federal Air Marshal Service).

Now where were we?

John Magaw was a former US Secret Service (USSS) agent. Magaw hired another former Secret Service agent by the name of Kevin Hoolihan to be TSA Undersecretary. Magaw then replaced the FAA's senior Federal Air Marshal with another former Secret Service agent by the name of Thomas Dewey Quinn, thereby making Quinn the Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service.

Quinn in turn hired Robert Byers (a former Secret Service agent) and made him the Deputy Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service, and together Quinn, Byers & Company began to “rebuild” the executive management of the newly established Federal Air Marshal Service by placing all of his cronies from the Secret Service into six-figured senior executive positions within the Federal Air Marshal Service ranks.

Over the course of a few months, Quinn, Byers & Company demoted or passed over every single one of the original 33 pre-911 Federal Air Marshals, and appointed former Secret Service agents to fill in almost every executive position in the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS).

Just who from the US Secret Service actually hijacked the Federal Air Marshal Service after 9/11? Well see for yourself –– the Cronies of the Quinn, Byers & Company read like a who’s who of the retired ranks of the US Secret Service:

*** Following is only a partial list (public information) of the more than 80 former Secret Service cronies (non-flying "FAMs") that were surreptitiously appointed by Director Quinn, into high-level supervisory positions. But even more egregious, Quinn refused to appoint any of the original 33 Air Marshals into a headquarters high-level management position.

HEADQUARTERS

• FAMS Director Thomas Dewey Quinn - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Deputy Director Robert F. Byers - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Agency Spokesperson David M. Adams - (Former US Secret Service Spokesperson)

• FAMS Assistant Director John A. Novak - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Assistant Director Timothy J. Cahill - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Assistant Director Michael H. Weikert - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Assistant Director Raymond M. Dineen - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Assistant Director Colleen B. Callahan - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Deputy Assistant Director George Papantoniou - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Deputy Assistant Director Patrick F. Sullivan - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Deputy Assistant Director Arnold A. Cole - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS "Consultant Contractor" Kevin R. Houlihan - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

IN THE FIELD OFFICES

• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Hedges - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge Ted S. Hresko - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge James A. Fitton - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge James E. Bauer - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Greba - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Donzanti - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Deputy Special Agent-in-Charge Joseph D'Angelillio - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Charles E. Ortman - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Carl G. Wahl - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

• FAMS Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Larry Saez - (Former US Secret Service Agent)

These appointments were the first steps in creating an institution of loyal “yes men” who would support and implement all of Director Quinn’s policies –– without question.

Anyone who had any kind of real world experience with counter terrorism or civil aviation security immediately opposed the changes that Quinn, Byers & Company were making to simply put bodies on aircraft, and Quinn and Byers systematically drove these people out of the executive ranks of the service.

The proof?

The problems that began leaking in USA Today in 2002 started almost to the day that Quinn, Byers & Company began their hostile takeover of the Federal Air Marshal Service.

The next step that Quinn and Byers took was filling in the middle management positions with still more loyal supporters to enforce Director Quinn’s policies. Quinn, Byers & Company hired hundreds of US Government retirees whose contracts start at $100,000 a year and go up from there –– and most of these retirees just happen to be “former Secret Service Agents”.

Quinn claims that the middle management is a “fair” mix of experience from many agencies. This is partly true. On the one hand many of the middle managers are retired from other agencies like the FBI, the Office of the Inspector General, the Veteran’s Administration, and the Social Security Administration.

But what Quinn isn't confessing is that these retiree’s had at one time or another been Secret Service Agents and had simply transferred to the other agencies when the Secret Service became too strenuous for them (an internet search of the terms “government watchdog organizations” will reveal that former USSS agents are taking over nearly every Federal agency, and that most of them are having the same types of problems as the Federal Air Marshal Service).

Quinn, Byers & Company had found a way to take advantage of a loophole in the Secret Service pension plan and a Federal employment category known as Excepted Service, and had hired an entire corps of mercenaries who would have absolutely no problem enforcing his insane and incompetent policies in the field.

The official explanation provided by Quinn and Byers was that the contract supervisors were hired as a temporary measure until replacements could be trained from the new Air Marshal ranks. So why are they still being paid in excess of $100,000 a year nearly four years later, and why have none of them trained their replacements yet?

In late 2002 John Magaw ran afoul of DOT Secretary Norman Mineta (DHS had not been created yet and the TSA was then still part of the DOT). Mineta did not approve of Magaw’s management practices and Magaw was fired / forced to resign. The allegations were widespread, but it is believed that Magaw was mismanaging and misappropriating government funds. Magaw immediately disappeared from government. Kevin Hoolihan (Magaw’s second in command) quietly resigned from the TSA shortly after Magaw for reasons that remain unknown.

What is known is that Hoolihan (a former Secret Service Agent and personal friend of Thomas Quinn and Robert Byers) was then hired by Quinn as a "private consultant to the Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service". In the time that Hoolihan has spent as a "consultant" he has billed the Air Marshal Service for an amount that is estimated to be close to 1 million dollars, for "consultation" on matters that he has no prior experience in, and which any one of the original 33 Federal Air Marshals is easily more knowledgeable about (not one of these original 33 Federal Air Marshals was placed in a position to make or dictate operational or administrative policies).

When Admiral James Loy (Magaw’s replacement) began questioning Quinn’s practices, Quinn, Byers & Company circumvented Loy and lobbied for the Federal Air Marshal Service to be moved out of Loy’s purview and into the troubled Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). When Loy left the TSA to become DHS Undersecretary, Quinn, Byers & Company did another evasive zig-zag and moved the Administrative and Personnel portion of the Federal Air Marshal Service back to the TSA, which had now been taken over by other “former Secret Service Agents”.

In fact, the Federal Air Marshal Service (prior to going back to TSA entirely) was the only Federal agency that had its internal operations and functions voluntarily divided between two completely different parts of the Federal Government.

Why?

It is believed that having things spread out in different parts of DHS meant that Quinn, Byers, & Company were the only persons that had all the details about (and control over) what was really going on in the Federal Air Marshal Service.

Many people simply cannot understand or believe how anyone could get away with the things that we have been hearing about at the Federal Air Marshal Service. It’s not so hard to understand once you realize that Quinn, Byers & Company have corrupted the entire institution. Anyone who would be in a position to question policies, procedures, budgets, and ethical issues, is actually part of a “stacked deck” consisting of loyal friends and past coworkers.

Everyone (the public, the media, and the rest of the government) knows that what Quinn, Byers & Company are doing is wrong. Some of senior managers will say, “Well, I didn’t know if that's accurate”. Others will say, “I was just following orders”. Still others (like Byers) will try to save their own hides one day after Quinn "retires" by saying “Yep. Things are not right. We see that now, and I’m ready to fix them”.

Too late Bob, you’re already tainted.

The other members of the executive management have had four years to put a stop to Quinn, Byers & Company, yet they too have done nothing, and that makes them just as guilty.

There is a word for someone (like a law enforcement officer) who has an official duty to take action (as in report, or “blow the whistle”) when confronted with wrongdoing, and through inaction fails to carry out that duty and allows wrongdoing to continue:

- Malfeasance -

FAM managers that were former Secret Service ABSOLUTELY make over $200,000 per year. Get YOUR facts straight. They collect a retirement of around 90K and then draw a FAMS salary of about 125K. It's criminal and a big con to the American people. Finally, you're right about the difference between FAMs and federal marshals. FAMs get paid more, have a higher clearance and don't sit in court and transport convicts.

Cindy, #1. You Don't WORK HERE. #2: They DO make that much. #3: We KNOW the difference between a US MArshal and an Air Marshal. So YOU get YOUR facts straight, and don't slander a Federal Agent unless you KNOW what you're talking about.

Why don't all the people whining about it, why don't you get off your butts and do something.

I'd like to address "Cindy" who seems to know more than Federal Air Marshals. "Cindy" seems to think that its impossible for any federal employee to be making $200,000 a year from the government. Well "Cindy", to be perfectly honest, you don't know squat.

It is FACT that the crony retired Secret Service agents in this agency are in fact making $200,000 and more a year from your government. How?

Well all federal employees who retire from the government are of course not allowed to just reapply for another federal job. That's a no-brainer right? Wrong!

The Secret Service negotiated a sweet deal back in the early 80's where they do not receive their retirement from the federal government, but instead from a retirement plan negotiated with the District of Columbia, therefore, after Secret Service Agents retire, they can turn right around and apply for yet another federal job at a full salary, while at the same time collecting their full pension from the government! No other federal employees in history have been allowed to do such a thing.

Most retired Secret Service agents take in approximately $75,000 a year in a retirement pension. Now add in their salaries with the Federal Air Marshal Service which START around $125,000 per year. When you add the two together, you get $200,000 and above these retired Secret Service agents are raking in each year.

This is the classic case of "double dipping". So I say to you "Cindy", maybe YOU should get YOUR facts straight before questioning the integrity of others who have been living this nightmare in this agency for the past 4 years.

Thank God this info is getting out! America wake up and demand the truth. It's your tax dollars at waste and it's the Secret Service good ol boy connection that is to blame. Tom Quinn I hope you sleep well and Director Brown..your four years as Deputy Chief Of Staff is going to be your end! Thank you ABC!!!

For anyone who thinks Rep. Sensenbrenner is simply grand-standing before the November elections: He beat his last opponent 66% to 32%

http://www.bipac.net/results_by_state.asp?g=AFPA&s=wi

OMG What are we going to do. I can tell you...NOTHING. Thats what the Bush administration has done and thats what will be done with this investigation. Mark my words..You will see.

I will post this as a still employed air marshal. The items in this discussion regarding the pay, the mistreatment, the lying, the cheating, the lack of respect is all true. In our office our acting SAC is former SS, our acting ASAC is former SS and no fewer then 2 of our ATSACs are former SS. The 2 that came in as ATSACs came in with absolutely no management experience and have proven it in their 4 years there so far. They are all spineless, coniving weasels that get off on sticking it to real cops. The sooner they all go the better.

As a flying Air Marshal I have personally witnessed the corruption and malfeasance expressed in the above posts. The good people who have attempted to stand up to this abuse have be the subject of "witch-hunts" and have had their families victimized. This includes FAM supervisors who came from other agencies (other than the Secret Service) who have worked for change but have been marginalized by the Secret Service "good ol' boy" network. And last but not least let's not forget the true victims in all this... the American public.

Please help us! We need help in this agency. I keep my mouth shut because I have a family to support. After so many things were released to the press by Tom Quinn and his boys I no longer feel safe in the air. I even had my neighbor tell my how I do my job as far as getting on the plane, how many marshals on a flight, what kind of weapon we carry, etc. I can't believe how things are handeled here in the FAM service. They seem to make up rules as they go. I hope this article will change some things but I will not hold my breath and I will still keep my mouth shut, or untill I find a new job.

Frank Terreri
FLEOA FAM Agency President

Make no mistake about it, the allegations against FAM management and their propensity to jeopordize the American public by inane and deadly policies are 100% truth. And anybody who questions the retaliatory accusations against FAM management, I'm THE prime example of retaliation. I have endured 4 Internal Affairs Investigations over nonsense and have been cleared each and every time. The FAM managers that have referred me for investigation have collective investigative experience of over 100 years. So, they are either the most inept investigators in the history of the Federal government or they are retaliating against employees. I look forward to sitting next to these MANAGERS - because they are far from leaders - and testifying in front of congress to all their misdeeds. Stay Safe.

If and when Congress opens up this insidious Bush/cronyism bag of worms I think they will be very surprised at the actions of so double-dipping former Secret Service snakes, that believe they are above the law.

As a dedicated Republican I was very disheartened when I learned that President Bush may have allowed the worst form of cronyism to interfere with his judgement when he appointed former Secret Service Agents (body guards), with little or no law enforcement background experience, to head up or be hired in key positions of federal law enforcement agencies.

It has been reported that many of these former Secret Service agents have apparently been performing their duties, unchecked and outside of the law. This is incredible. The fact that Bush has allowed or condoned this LAWLESSNESS through inaction is UNCONCIONABLE. However, it is not the first time that his view of lawlessness has surprised this Republican in recent months. He seems to think that illegal Mexicans, including the 400,000 Mexican felons in our prisons, are IMMIGRANTS.....Go figure.

This is a sad situation for Bush to have created in the name of cronyism and inflicted upon those fine and dedicated (REAL) federal law enforcement individuals that believe in the rule of law and who's lives and careers have been destroyed by Bush cronies that apparently do not believe that laws apply to them.

It my understanding, that former Secret Service agents think that way since there is absolutely no accountability in the Secret Service Agency.If this is true,apparently Bush's double dipping Secret Service crony-appointees have carried their "we are above the law" culture mentality into their Bush appointed top leadership federal law enforcement positions.

Since so many Federal Air Marshalls came from within other federal law enforcment agencies, it only goes to reason that they would never stand silent where lawlessness is running amuck within any agency that they are sworn to uphold.

Congress may find that they are only seeing the tip of a "Titanic" sized iceberg.I shudder at the thought of how many exceptional law enforcement/Federal Air Marshals this nation may have lost because of these inept arrogant former Secret Service Bush cronies.

My heart aches for them and their families.We are in debt to them all for their dedication to uphold the law, protect our skies and most of all for their courage to rise above the silent self serving bureaucratic frey to do what they know is right and true.

Edmond Burke said it best, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing". Many Federal Air Marshall's have already done something, and it is time for the rest to come forward and stand behind them.This great country needs you, your integrity,your commitment and your courage. God Bless America and those that protect it at home and in combat.

To LAX Air Marshal and "Correcting Cindy". First of all I did not say it was impossible for a federal employee to make 200K/yr -- I said "not many" do. The statement above was that a FAM makes 200/Yr and that's what I was referring to. I made no mention of a Secret Service agent.

You don't know who I am or if I am an employee so, trust me, I do know what I'm talking about.

And, you forgot to answer my other question for the benefit of the other bloggers -- ARE YOU UNION?

And, forgive me, I forgot that if it's on 20/20 it must be true!

Shawn B. McCullers
FLEOA FAM Agency VP for Health & Safety

I am now a former FAM, but have been asked to continue in my position (Non-Paid) as a FLEOA VP. I am not a FAM anymore because the FAM service has chosen to ignore the Health and Safety standards that are in place based on the FAA and the Aeronautic Medical Branches of the Armed Forces on the physiological tolerances of the human body in relation to flying. Simply, FAMs are being flown to the point that many have failing health from various flight related illnesses. I was diagnosed with a life threatening illness (DVT) as a direct result of the time I spent flying as a FAM. Although there are countless positions in the service that do not require me to fly, they claim to have no position that I can fill. This has been the case for a great many FAMs who have gotten ill as a direct result of flying too much or flying in the manner not conducive to maintaining good physical health. However, their favored FAMs seem to be selected for those positions that do not require flying frequently. This is pattern and practice for the FAM Service Management and easily documented. A truly thorough investigation would easily reveal the truth in my statements.

FAMs are being threatened, targeted, and coerced under threat of termination from speaking about these illnesses and being discouraged from seeking medical care for these illnesses. Further, those that do file anyway are having their Workers' Compensation claims routinely controverted. (The Agency Claiming the employee did not get hurt as a result of their employment) This has occurred as a matter of standard practice by the FAM Office of Workers' Compensation (OWCP) Coordinator in coordination with their field offices. This is done to preclude these FAMs from and/or make it harder for them to receive benefits and proper medical care under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA).

FAMs are being harassed for using their sick leave to go to the doctors and for using Family Medical Leave to care for their wives or children. They are being told that they have to reveal their families’ medical issues to their supervisors. The supervisors will then decide if it is a valid issue, in violation of the HIPPA Act at the very least. Many of these supervisors, if not all, are not qualified to fly FAM missions—let alone act as certified licensed medical practitioners.

Some FAMs are being directed by FAM Medical Branch Personnel not to take medication prescribed for their illnesses by their doctors, so that they can continue to fly against medical orders. Many FAMs communicate to me and apprise me that they feel compelled to adhere to this illegal advice "...because I have a family to feed and I cannot afford to lose my job." So they remain silent and ill...

This is a story that long needs to be told. It is critical to note that what I believe is a culture of corruption and oppression within the FAM Service Management is rampant and the allegations many have made are true. Now it is time to have a full accounting of this criminal behavior. The American People we are charged with protecting deserve better. The current FAM Management is grossly incapable of providing for our mission, in my opinion and the opinions of most of the rank and file FAMs. That is not to say that the rank and file are not up to task, it is the FAM management that is jeopardizing the American Public through gross mismanagement, cronyism, abuse of authority, ineptitude, and malfeasance to name a few ways. I will be standing tall by Frank Terreri's side awaiting my turn to tell the truth in my testimony. Until then, I will continue to labor for my fellow FAMs in bringing these issues to light. Hold your heads FLYING FAMS, and STAY TRUE TO YOUR OATH.

Shawn B. McCullers
Former Philadelphia FAM

like we are really surprised? ANOTHER government agency being misrun and abuse of authority? No way. Will anyone be punished? Will justice prevail? Lots of hot air blown around and the only people that will be screwed will be the little guys that have had to work for these idiots and the public who has paid for the dance.

We are begging the public to listen to Congress and what ABC News has uncovered. Be the voice of the Federal Air Marshals that cannot speak for fear of retaliation from former Secret Service employees. The retaliation and threats are real. The fraud, waste and corruption is real. The pain suffered by front line Air Marshals is real.

Please write your Congressmen and tell them to do something other than sign another report acknowledging the crimes. All ex-USSS employees should be placed back into retirement and qualified personnel that care about preventing another 9/11 should lead the FAMS.

Guys are leaving the FAMS for $30K jobs as local cops because they cannot live with the corruption any longer. Yes, a $60K pay cut so that they can respect themselves again. Many of us still care deeply about preventing another 9/11.

I cannot emphasize enough how insane it is to have ex-USSS personnel running this agency. They are the sick joke and laughing stock of federal law enforcement.

FAMS management will tell you the attrition rate here is no different than at any other agency in the federal gov't. It is the same as they count all the former FBI, Border Patrol and Customs agents that quit to return to their previous jobs as transfers and not losses. Someone that takes a pay cut to return to the FBI is not a transfer. They should be counted as a LOSS to the FAMS. Everyone in the agency worth anything is looking for a different job. This is horrible as it will take a long time to recruit the same caliber people if and when this place is turned around.

Please demand your Congressmen and Senators DO SOMETHING and stop just talking about helping us. PLEASE HELP!!! Write a letter or make at least one call...

Wow, the comments from FAMs show that as bad as it is flying as a passeneger now, working as an Air Marshal is even worse. You would think that a retired Secret Service agent making over $170,000 a year in salary and Federal pension would have better things to do than screw over subordinates. Apparently not, these Air Marshal bosses get their jollies being bullies and sadists. What a world we live in now, thanks to Osama the Psychopathic Killer.

In response to Angry Fam, you have every right to be angry ! All Americans should be angry enough to contact everyone in Washington about this systemic ongoing pattern of total disregard for the the law. These are arrogant double dipping former Secret Service agents that were put in their FAM management law enforcement positions because of WHO they knew...NOT because of what they knew

Ofcourse they want to get rid of any and all well qualified real law enforcement personnel in the FAMS.....you only remind them of the fact that they are not qualified for their crony aquired management positions and only keep those positions because they protected and know Presidents.

Why shouldn't they feel that they are above the law with connections like that ? What difference does it make when they have proven that they have no real management skills , integrety or law enforcement ability ? These are low life individuals that epidomise the truest forms of reaching and exceeding their highest levels of inefficiency and incompetence.

However,this blatent lawlessness and the "cover ups" by management in the Federl Air Marshall Service is beyond eggregeous. Every member of Congress, on both sides of the isle should demand that each and every one of the double dipping former Secret Service agents give up all of their positions immediately without added retirement benefits.

Taxpayers paid through the nose to train Federal Air Marshalls after 9-11 and these arrogant sick cronies are driving highly qualified FAM's out of their jobs. I have heard rummors that there have even been suicides, among FAM's, due to unlawful gross mistreatment and retaliation against FAM's that refused to look the other way when FAM management's
lawlessness became intollerable.

It is time for all law abiding Americans to tell Congress that it is up to them to uncover the "cover-ups" and see to it that our laws are upheld. No one in our government should ever be allowed to thumb their nose at our laws...least of all, by a bunch of has been glorified body guards with high-up connections.Any and all that have violated the law should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law .... the very same laws that they think they are above.

This is all very disturbing. I have enough problems worrying about bad turbulence or an engine blowing up. Now I have to worry about sick, tired, exposed and oppressed Air Marshals?

How can a program with ONE simple mission get so screwed up?

I thank all the Air Marshals who came forward, but I think I will take trains and buses until this all gets resolved.

This is addressed those idiots in the highest levels of our government that feel that they need to find jobs for their retired Secret Service cronies. Why and how do you equate Secret Service experience with law enforcement ? Why did you have to corrupt the federal law enforcement agencies with has-been Presidential glorified body guards ?

Since they are well trained in the fine art of "protection" why not send them all to Iraq to throw themselves in front of some of those real bullets that are killing our fine members of our armed forces. Perhaps they would be less likely to disregard our laws if they saw first hand the REAL price of peace and freedom. They might even get some respect for our laws, that so many Americans gave their lives to protect.

Two legged body armor might be the best and most appropriate job for old Secret Service has-been wannabes. They seem to have proven that they are not qualified for management or LAW ENFORCEMENT !

Somehow, they just didn't seem to understand that law enforcement is supposed to CATCH the criminals.....as opposed to being the CRIMINALS !

I've read most of these postings and it's just laughable that so many of you love to blame Bush for every failing of government. I'm no hugh fan of Bush but he is but one man and according to the postings that I've read you expect him to run the war on terror, the Iraqi war, the war in Afghanistan, stand out on the border with his rifle, appoint qualified justices, make good tax law, improve the economy, personally hire/fire and oversee agents in the secret service, over see the federal air marshals, etc. Perhaps you forgot all the corruption during the Clinton administration. Now listen and listen good. This is not a republican or democrat thing, it is a politician thing. After a few years in office or in agency they all get corrupt. I never realized just how true to form that Eddie Murphy movie was until now. I think they go into politics and goverment with good intentions, then after a few years and a little taste of power away they go. ALL!!

Guys are you confused, they are exempt from meeting the same medical standards as FAMS, DR Weeks said so!

Also the other standards, well they just keep getting remeidal training and than they pass and are good until the next time, they aren't on flight status so does it really matter. Or are they by their job description? Ummm do they carry a weapon and what does their badge read (we know what it should read)So why attend ACY Training? What is considered investigation experience?

Would like to kow how many investigations which led to convictions and arrest these agents really conducted whilst at the service. What was the problems at Secret Service in the late 90's early 2000? What was the attitude there, Uniformed vs Agent?

How long do you need to be a Federal Law Enforcement Officer before retirement when you reach what age? How many more years left with these managers?

Boys hold your heads high and know that there are a lot of people who are wannabees and GOD knows! As I have seen many good FAMs come and go because of one reason lack of managment as mangament is a action not a person or position.

Bush started out right with a good response to 9/11 and other crisis but now everything has changed and for the worse. He had the right intentions but now rampant cronyism has brought us appointments of the worst sort. Vital agencies like FAM, DHS & FEMA are run by incompetent (and mean spirited) persons. And the hostile work environments they create cost taxpayers a lot. These agencies are beyond reform. They should be abolished.

Cindy,
No union or other collective bargaining is allowed in the FAMS as it is an excepted service agency. I was never a fan of unions in the past, but this is the exact case where it would help immensely.

The organizing of FAMs in private organizations such as DAMA and FLEOA is all we can accomplish. See www.fleoa.org or www.airmarshalalliance.org for details and contact info if you are concerned. Why are FAMS forming legal aid associations and retaining attorneys in alarming numbers???

Also, I am in agreement that everything you see on the news is not true. I can assure you that EVERYTHING you see on this ABC News report is true and will not cover it all unless they do a fifteen hour program.

Please do some research on the internet of the lawsuits, media reports and other documents relating to all the issues of corruption and fraud perpetrated by FAMS management.

Please do not be offended by strong responses Cindy. The FAMS is full of type A personalities that truly are patriots to the core. My peers and I came to this agency to say NEVER AGAIN to another 9/11. Every one of us will give our lives to protect you or any other American that may be riding with us. To be stuck trying to survive in an agency being run into the ground by these fools does a lot to anger guys beyond their capacities to cope. A typical case of stupidity here involves a former USSS agent with ZERO career arrests telling a career US Special Forces operator from Delta or the SEALs they do not know what the hell they are talking about because they never protected the Prez. The former Special Forces operator also typically has five to ten years of REAL law enforcement experience doing complex investigations and enforcement operations beyond watching a door knob or trash can behind a hotel. The typical FAM also has either a graduate degree, law degree, pilots training or other specialized training in addition to their undergraduate degree. The typical ex-USSS manager in the FAMS is lucky to have a single undergrad degree. Tell us how they are better qualified again other than through the secret handshake?

Try doing some research on the bonuses given to upper level managers for the rates at which they work their men into the ground. Look into why the FAMS disregards the FAA guidelines for flight hours.

Please do a little research and see what has been going on for some time. ABC has just touched the tip of the iceberg. Let us hope ABC follows up and does more than one sensational story. They need to let the public know what is going on here. We are told to quit if we do not like "the system".