Leidos chief says U.S. ports need more funding to boost vehicle and cargo screening

In a recent interview about border safety, Tom Bell, chief executive of Leidos, described the company's role in supplying scanning technology for people, cars, trucks, rail cars and containers at U.S. ports of entry. He pointed out that the existing network is fragmented, with some ports and railroad crossings lacking any screening capability, which hampers efforts to detect narcotics and verify cargo contents. Bell argued that closing these gaps will require targeted investment in permanent infrastructure, enabling customs, border patrol and officials such as Secretary Mullin to more reliably match shipments to their bills of lading. He also outlined Leidos’ extensive contracts with the Department of War, U.S. intelligence agencies, Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, and several Department of Homeland Security components, including the Coast Guard, TSA and CISA, underscoring the firm’s position as a top federal IT provider.