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.
As congressional budget battles have led to government shutdowns and TSA staffing shortages, a new program called TSA Gold+ seeks to expand the use of private contractors for airport security screening while maintaining direct oversight from the government agency.
TSA Gold+, a new “public-private partnership,” aims to expand the Screening Partnership Program, according to TSA. Private contractors would manage both screening personnel and checkpoint technology, with TSA oversight.
The TSA Gold+ website touts that the program “streamlines operations,” “creates revenue opportunities,” and “improves traveler experience while maintaining strong privacy and security compliance.”
TSA plans to launch Gold+ at three US airports next year. They are:
- Des Moines International Airport (Iowa)
- Charleston International Airport (South Carolina)
- Tampa International Airport (Florida)
The New York Times reported that Des Moines will transition to TSA Gold+ in January 2027, followed by Charleston in February 2027 and Tampa in May 2027.
The American Federation of Government Employees, the union representing 47,000 Transportation Security Officers at 400 airports, criticized the Trump administration’s push for privatization, saying in a statement that the move “ignores lessons learned from the September 11 attacks and other airline tragedies.”
“The administration’s actions should concern all Americans, and AFGE will continue to speak out against any proposal that threatens our members’ jobs and jeopardizes the safety of the flying public,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said.
These 3 airports join a longer list of US airports with private security
Although the three airports would be the first to participate in Gold+, they are not the first to rely on private screeners. The 20 airports that participate in SPP, using contractors rather than federally employed TSA agents, are:
- Atlantic City International Airport (New Jersey)
- Charles M. Schulz—Sonoma County Airport (California)
- Dawson Community Airport (Montana)
- Great Falls International Airport (Montana)
- Glacier Park International Airport (Montana)
- Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (New York)
- Havre City-County Airport (Montana)
- Kansas City International Airport (Missouri)
- L. M. Clayton Airport (Montana)
- Orlando Sanford International Airport (Florida)
- Portsmouth International Airport (New Hampshire)
- Punta Gorda Airport (Florida)
- Roswell Air Center (New Mexico)
- San Francisco International Airport (California)
- Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (Florida)
- Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport (Montana)
- Sioux Falls Regional Airport (South Dakota)
- Tupelo Regional Airport (Mississippi)
- Wokal Field/Glasgow International Airport (Montana)
- Yellowstone Airport (Montana)
TSA did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
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