TSA Seeks $477 Million to Expand Private Screening, Cutting 4,300 Agents
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 20
TSA Seeks $477 Million to Expand Private Screening, Cutting 4,300 Agents
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 20
$477 million in new spending would let more smaller airports join the TSA’s private Screening Partnership Program, while the agency’s proposed budget eliminates more than 4,300 of roughly 50,000 screeners.
The push follows shutdown-driven staffing strains that left TSA agents unpaid and produced long checkpoint lines, strengthening the case inside the agency for outsourcing security work.
Twenty airports, including San Francisco International, already use private screeners; at some non-TSA airports, waits stayed around 10 minutes or less while lines at TSA-run airports such as Houston Hobby stretched outside terminals.
TSA has also widened the program so contractors can deploy and manage screening equipment, and a new voluntary Gold+ initiative would deepen private-sector involvement over a seven- to 11-month rollout.
The shift marks a sharp reversal for an agency long identified with federalized checkpoint screening, potentially reshaping how U.S. airport security is staffed and operated.
Will privatizing airport security trade shorter wait times for greater risks?
Is the new Gold+ program a high-tech upgrade or a two-tier travel system in disguise?
Trump Administration’s FY2027 Plan to Mandate Private Security at All Small U.S. Airports: Impacts, Debates, and Long-Term Implications
Overview
The Trump administration’s FY2027 budget proposal aims to expand private security screening at U.S. airports by requiring all small airports to join the TSA’s Screening Partnership Program. This move is driven by the goal of achieving cost savings and greater operational resilience, especially after recent government shutdowns exposed weaknesses in the federal system. Under the program, private companies—overseen by the TSA—would handle security screening, while maintaining federal standards. The proposal has sparked debate, with supporters highlighting efficiency and flexibility, and critics raising concerns about security and labor standards. The plan marks a significant shift in how airport security could be managed nationwide.