Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The Transportation Security Administration might not meet the deadline set by Congress to screen all air cargo for bombs or hazardous materials, a government watchdog report released Wednesday said.

The warning about the dangers of air cargo coincide with renewed threats against the United States as President Obama considers military intervention in a Libyan uprising.

The TSA is supposed to screen 100 percent of air cargo for possible terrorist threats by the end of this year.

However, a new Government Accountability Office report says “there is no technology approved or qualified by TSA to screen cargo once it is loaded onto a pallet or container – both of which are common means of transporting domestic air cargo on passenger aircraft.

“As a result, questions remain about air carriers’ ability to effectively screen air cargo on such aircraft,” the GAO report said.

The GAO released its report at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in Washington, D.C.

Members of the committee questioned TSA and GAO officials about what can be done to speed up the government’s ability to prevent hidden terrorist bombs or toxins from being imported into the United States.

“One slip-up could cause a loss of life,” said Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas).

Witnesses said the risks could be heightened as the federal government cuts back on its budget to halt a spiraling deficit.

The budget reductions could result in fewer inspectors at airports, making screening of cargo more difficult.

“To me, it’s going to be challenging to do,” said Stephen Lord, the GAO’s director of homeland security and justice issues.

Some cargo, such as food, sealed pharmaceuticals and household items, are difficult to inspect even with enough inspectors, he said.

“Obviously, the industry has some concerns about doing this by December,” he said.

In some cases, high-tech equipment that can peer through dense materials with microwaves and other sophisticated devices are not always the best response, said John Sammon, a TSA assistant administrator.

“Canines are effective,” Sammon said.

As the Homeland Security Committee met, Obama was considering whether to authorize air strikes against the Libyan military as it fought with dissidents opposed to the country’s leader, Muammar Qaddafi.

Qaddafi, along with the Iranian government, issued statements saying the U.S. military should stay out of Libya.

In addition, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory this week to Americans to avoid the nearby country of Yemen.

The travel advisory mentioned terrorism and civil unrest as threats to Americans.

Air cargo security became a heightened concern of the TSA in 2010 after two bombs were discovered in ink cartridges being shipped from Yemen to a Jewish synagogue in Chicago.

The bombs were removed safely from the airplanes that carried them, but soon prompted Congress to order closer monitoring of cargo entering the United States.

Congress originally set a deadline for 100 percent screening of air cargo for December 2010.

The TSA won an agreement to push the deadline back to the end of this year as the technical difficulties of screening all cargo became more obvious.

One of the problems was verifying cargo has been screened, which can require coordinating efforts with uncooperative foreign governments.

The GAO report said the agency still needs a method to independently verify cargo screening.

Other warnings about air cargo security came this week from the International Air Transport Association.

IATA director general Giovanni Bisignani said during an industry conference in Istanbul that a “catastrophe” is likely without better security.

However, he said interference with freight traffic that 100 percent screening could cause might make the goal unrealistic.

“We must resist the knee-jerk call for 100 percent cargo screening,” Bisignani said. “The industry must be secure with effective measures that facilitate the speed needed to support global commerce.”

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