Utah Special Function Officer (SFO) Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of the TSA?

1. To oversee federal law enforcement

2. To manage air traffic control

3. To ensure the safety of public transportation

4. To protect the nation's transportation systems

The correct answer is: To protect the nation's transportation systems

The primary purpose of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is to protect the nation's transportation systems. This encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including ensuring the safety of air travel, ground transportation, and the security of critical infrastructure related to transportation. The TSA was created in response to the events of September 11, 2001, with the main objective of preventing future terrorist attacks on the transportation sector. This involves implementing security measures such as screenings at airports, monitoring of transportation facilities, and establishing security protocols for transportation systems across the country. The comprehensive focus on protecting not just air travel but other forms of transportation as well is indicative of the broader mission of safeguarding the entire transportation network. It's worth noting that while overseeing federal law enforcement and ensuring public transportation safety are important components of the agency's broader mission, they don't capture the full scope of what the TSA does. Managing air traffic control is specifically under the authority of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and not the TSA. Therefore, the correct answer reflects the overarching goal of the agency to enhance security measures across all forms of transportation.