Overview
- The agency’s TSA Gold+ plan, outlined in a May 14 memo obtained by Gate Access, extends the Screening Partnership Program by letting contractors run screeners and checkpoint technology under TSA oversight.
- Most travelers should see little change for now because federal procedures stay the same and no new participating airports have been named, with interest expected to center on smaller regional facilities.
- TSA leaders pitch Gold+ as a way to speed new equipment into lanes and to shield operations after 61,000 officers went unpaid during recent shutdowns that produced hours-long lines.
- Labor groups including the American Federation of Government Employees oppose wider privatization, warning it could reduce pay and benefits, drive turnover, and put profit ahead of security.
- Related moves include a June Boston pilot that screens some passengers off-site before a vetted Landline shuttle to Logan and a FY2027 budget proposal that would require smaller airports to use private screeners with projected $52 million in savings.