GAO: Airports Tap Federal Grants for Security at Record Level
Airports spent $561 million in federal Airport Improvement Program grants on security projects in fiscal year 2002, a record sum, the U.S. General Accounting Office says. A GAO report released Oct. 25 says 2002's AIP security spending was well above the previous high of $122 million in fiscal 1991, and nearly 10 times the $57 million in 2001.
The $561 million represents 17% of the $3.3 billion total AIP funds for 2002. AIP security spending has averaged less than 2% of the total available in past years.