The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has officially launched the TSA Gold+ program. While it sounds like a luxury program for travelers, it’s actually a major shift toward privatizing airport security.
The TSA announced the move in an internal memo sent to employees on May 14. According to the TSA, the program is “the future of aviation security.” The site explains that the program is a “new public-private partnership aimed at modernizing aviation security at select airports across the United States” and says it will allow airports to opt-in to a “tailored security screening service unique to each airport’s needs and space configuration.” Those airports will work with the TSA and prospective vendors.
While the expansion of the program is new, around 20 airports, such as San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Kansas City International Airport (MCI), already participate in the federal Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which allows them to contract with private security firms. TSA Gold+ is essentially expanding on that program’s model.
For travelers, most won’t notice a difference at the airport, as TSA standard security rules are likely to stay the same. The TSA says the innovation will lead to smoother travel due to an upgraded screening process. However, the shift would mark a big transition for workers. It would mean TSA becomes a regulatory role focused on oversight instead of one that is used to manage day-to-day operations.
The rollout of the program comes after a challenging year for the TSA when a partial government shutdown led to 61,000 TSA employees to work without pay, long airport wait times, and many walking off the job. Advocates of the new program say that it will insulate workers from lapses in paychecks.
Last month, Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told Congress, “Expanding SPP is one of the many avenues the Trump administration is pursuing to help protect our screening workforce from lapses in congressional appropriations. McNeill continued, saying, “In contrast, SPP screeners have not yet missed a paycheck.”
On the contrary, not everyone agrees that the program is beneficial. Labor unions, such as the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have been warning against privatizing airport screening. In a May 12 post, the organization explained that the shift could be problematic because it will mean that airports rely on contractors who typically pay less and offer fewer benefits. AFGE also says the move would shift national security jobs to profit-driven organizations while cutting federal jobs.