WASHINGTON — The color-coded terror alerts that began eight years ago after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks could be headed for the trash bin.
The Associated Press reports that the Homeland Security Department is proposing to discontinue the the five-color coded system, with green representing the lowest threat and red the highest. At airports, the color has been orange, the second from the top.
AP reported that critics thought the colors were too vague and Democrats had complained during the Bush years that it was being used as a political scare tactic.
Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole told ABC’s “Good Morning America” said the administration wants to give the public a better idea of threats and that the colors may be too vague.
“I think it’s something that is under review to make it meaningful and relevant to the American people,” he said. “I’m just not sure how relevant it is.”