3 US airports plan to replace TSA agents with private contractors in a bid to reduce disruptions to passengers — see the list
Three U.S. airports are joining the TSA Gold+ program to transition security screening to private contractors under federal oversight. The move aims to improve passenger experience and maintain efficiency during potential government staffing shortages.
Why it matters
This shift represents a significant change in how critical national infrastructure manages security operations to avoid the disruptions seen during government shutdowns.
US airports experienced longer security wait times when Transportation Security Administration officers missed paychecks during the government shutdown in March. Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images The TSA Gold+ program aims to expand the use of private contractors while retaining federal oversight. Three US airports are set to participate in TSA Gold+ next year. They join 20 airports that already use private security contractors instead of federal TSA agents. Who can forget the airport chaos that ensued during the partial government shutdown in March? Hourslong waits. Floating balloons to indicate checkpoint locations in the swelling crowds. Security lines snaking out into parking garages. Meanwhile, the 20 airports that employ private contract screeners instead of federal workers through the Transportation Security Administration's Screening Partnership Program (SPP) largely maintained normal wait times.
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