TSA is rethinking airport security operations after two government shutdowns caused widespread staffing problems and long passenger delays. TSA Gold+ aims to shift day-to-day security work to private contractors while keeping airport costs stable. A separate trial beginning in June will let some Boston passengers clear security 25 miles away, then take a paid bus to the airport and be dropped at their gates. The transport company Landline will secure the bus during the often over one-hour trip. Both initiatives aim to reduce inconvenience and increase reliance on private companies. Privatization has been tested through the TSA Screening Partnership Program at multiple airports, where disruptions were smaller during shutdowns compared with fully federal staffing.
"TSA Gold+ aims to shift day-to-day security operations to private contractors without increasing airport costs. Another trial, launching in June, will allow some Boston airport passengers to clear security 25 miles away, then ride a bus to the airport for a fee, where they will be dropped off at their gates. It relies on the transport company Landline to keep the bus secure for the often over one-hour drive. Both initiatives have the same goal: Make airport security less of a headache for everyone and rely more on private companies to do it."
"The US has been experimenting with privatization for years, primarily through the TSA's Screening Partnership Program. This uses contracted security officials to screen passengers and baggage at 20 airports, including San Francisco and Kansas City, as well as several smaller regional airports. The benefit of this became apparent in late 2025 and early 2026, when thousands of federal TSA officers worked without pay during two government shutdowns after Congress failed to reach funding deals."
"Staffing thinned as demoralized workers called out or quit, stretching security lines for hours with little to no notice. San Francisco's private security, by contrast, saw minimal disruptions. Passengers at Houston Hobby Airport experienced TSA wait times up to three hours during the partial government shutdown."
"It's not a new stance from the Trump Administration privatization of aviation systems has been a campaign promise, with President Donald Trump saying he believes fully privatizing them while maintaining government oversight would save money, improve efficiency, and enhance safety. With Gold+, officials want to make the Screening Partnership Program a reality nationwide, shifting not just physical screening duties but al"
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