WASHINGTON — The government announced yesterday it will take over the task of checking names of airline passengers against terrorism watch lists, saying it can do a more comprehensive and secure job than carriers.
The new system is intended to verify the identity of domestic travelers by amassing information that passengers have given airlines and comparing it with records in government databases. The goal is to screen travelers more effectively by using a larger pool of suspected terrorists than airlines had access to.

The government does not provide airlines with complete terrorist lists for fear that such information could fall into the wrong hands, said David Stone, chief of the Transportation Security Administration.

"We will have the database under the umbrella of the government so we can have enhanced security and not have the release of the names into arenas where enemies can access them," Stone said.

The new system, Secure Flight, is to begin testing in the next two months. It would replace a proposed screening operation derided by critics for failing to adequately ensure passengers' privacy.

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