The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will miss a congressionally mandated deadline to screen 100 per cent of US-bound air cargo by the first of August, US lawmakers noted recently. In a recent report, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) also said TSA relies too heavily on a voluntary shipping programme to ensure the compliance of private companies in the 100 per cent screening requirement and recommended that TSA develop contingency plans to address shortfalls in voluntary participation. The GAO report, Aviation Security: TSA Has Made Progress but Faces Challenges in Meeting the Statutory Mandate for Screening Air Cargo on Passenger Aircraft, determined that TSA should set up a staffing study for the programme, verify the accuracy of screening data, set up a contingency plan for screening domestic cargo, and produce new plans for meeting requirements for screening cargo originating from overseas.