TSA Pushes Expanded Private Airport Screening Amid Modernization Fight
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is taking steps to increase private screening at U.S. airports– as industry and union leaders push back. This comes as the nation deals with rising air travel demand and a slew of staffing challenges as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faced repeated funding battles and staffing pressures over the past year.
First– the TSA is pushing a program called TSA Gold+- an update to the Screening Partnership Program (SPP), where 20 U.S. airports use private security screeners instead of federal workers.
"TSA Gold+ marks a significant evolution in the agency's approach to aviation security," said a TSA spokesperson to NPR.
TSA Gold+ takes SPP a step further– giving airports more power over developing and deploying screening technology, maintaining equipment, and managing parts of checkpoint operations. However, TSA would still regulate security standards and oversee compliance.
There has not been a nationwide rollout yet, and airports are exploring participation.
The administration, meanwhile, is pushing for more small airports to enroll in SPP, which labor groups say could put roughly 5,000 TSA jobs at risk.
Remote Screening Pilot
Airports are also testing various pilot programs.
Starting June 1, a first-in-the-nation remote screening terminal is going to open for Boston’s Logan International Airport. The terminal will be in Framingham, Massachusetts, over 20 miles away.
Under the pilot program, participating passengers will be screened at the offsite facility before being bused directly to a secure area near their departure gate.
House Hearing on TSA Modernization
Meanwhile, the House Homeland Security Committee held a recent hearing on modernizing TSA.
Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu (former Republican governor of New Hampshire) told members that going fully private for airport security would not work.
“Ensuring SPP remains an option for airports and does not become a mandatory program is paramount to the U.S. aviation industry,” said Sununu, who added that, “airports need the flexibility to make their own choices.”
Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) said that private-public partnerships should be just one part of TSA modernization.
Rep. Garbarino is also supporting legislation that would double the amount of money the TSA administrator is required to set aside to reimburse airports for capital costs associated with security to $500 million. The legislation would also establish an annual TSA fund of $250 million for airport screening technology.
