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Three Airports Plan to Ditch T.S.A. Amid Push for Private Security
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Three U.S. airports—Tampa International, Des Moines International, and Charleston International—are the first to adopt the TSA’s new voluntary public-private screening program called Gold+.
- Gold+ is an update to an existing initiative where private security screeners, rather than federal TSA agents, conduct passenger screenings at certain airports.
- Airport officials in Tampa and Des Moines cited recent government shutdowns and long TSA lines as reasons for adopting the program, hoping it will reduce disruptions and speed access to new screening technology.
- The TSA workers’ union strongly opposes the move, criticizing the lack of consultation with Congress, the public, and TSA employees, and warning that privatization could pose significant security risks.
- The TSA announced the new program to staff in May, aiming to expand private screening options beyond the current 20 airports using private screeners.
