Appropriations subcommittee presses U.S. Capitol Police on screening failures; chief outlines training and AI upgrades

At a House Appropriations Subcommittee oversight hearing, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said recent security lapses at screening points were caused by human error and described a suite of near-term changes intended to reduce future breaches.

"Any security failure is of grave concern to both me and my officers. These failures will not be tolerated," Chief Thomas Manger told the subcommittee as he summarized written testimony submitted for the record.

The changes Manger described include mandatory refresher training for screening officers with a required test twice a year; a supervisory requirement that sergeants document visits to screening posts three times per shift; a virtual audit program using Capitol Police cameras to randomly monitor screening posts; restructuring of post rotations to reduce officer fatigue and complacency; and further software improvements to x-ray machines that use artificial intelligence.

"None of these screening failures that occurred this year were as a result of technology or equipment failures. They were human error," Manger said, adding that AI already installed on x-ray machines in 2024 will be further developed to provide a "more dramatic visual alert and automatically stop the x-ray belt when a prohibited item is identified." He said the department also plans an "image projection" feature so officers must acknowledge nonthreatening images as part of monitoring compliance.

Committee members pressed Manger on the department's supervisory and organizational controls after an Office of Inspector General report noted the need for stronger integrated internal controls. Representative David Valadao, the subcommittee chairman, framed the hearing as a bipartisan effort to "review the status of public safety and security of the Capitol Complex" and called for cooperation by members, staff and visitors with the Capitol's security protocols.

Representative Adriano Espaillat, the subcommittee ranking member, praised the department's work during national special security events but said recent breaches were "unacceptable" and urged support for the Capitol Police. Representative Rosa DeLauro, ranking member of the full Appropriations Committee, said the presence of firearms on the campus should be "0" for anyone not explicitly authorized and asked how operating under a continuing resolution affects security operations.

Manger provided several quantitative and procedural details: the department screens "over 8,000,000 staff and visitors" each year; the planned virtual-audit and benchmarking review of similar agencies was expected to be completed by April 4; prescreener training on detecting abnormal behavior had already begun; and all USB (Uniformed Services Bureau) officers would take updated screening refresher training beginning this summer, with certification maintained by passing the test twice a year. He also said a lieutenant has been assigned as the security screening program manager.

Representatives asked about staffing and morale. Quigley and others noted a recent department climate survey and raised concerns that accountability measures not be unnecessarily punitive. Representative Dale Strong questioned staffing numbers; Manger confirmed the department has "just under 2,200 sworn officers," of whom roughly 1,600 are rank-and-file and about 210 are sergeants or lieutenants (Manger clarified the figure as roughly 160 sergeants and 50 lieutenants). Members also referenced injuries and losses to officers stemming from Jan. 6 and called for recognition of officers' service.

Members pressed Manger on the balance between technological tools and officer responsibility. Manger said AI and equipment are tools that "assist officers" but emphasized that an officer must still observe alerts and take action. He described a multi-layered screening process that includes prescreeners, magnetometers and x-ray screening for packages and said the department will continue benchmarking best practices with agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service, TSA and the Federal Protective Service.

On funding, several members warned that operating under a continuing resolution could hamper longer-term investments. Representative DeLauro said the subcommittee needs to return to bipartisan negotiations for full-year 2026 appropriations and asked Manger to identify any gaps between what the department needs and what it is being asked to do.

The hearing did not produce formal committee actions or votes; members were invited to submit additional questions for the record. The subcommittee followed the testimony with member questioning that emphasized implementation timelines, accountability that preserves morale, and the need for continued oversight.

The department and the subcommittee agreed to follow up on planned technological enhancements, training outcomes and the benchmarking assessment described by Manger.