Three airports plan to ditch TSA for private security
Three U.S. airports — Tampa International, Charleston International, and Des Moines International — plan to replace federal TSA officers with private screeners under the voluntary TSA Gold+ program. The agency keeps regulatory oversight and checkpoint rules, while contractors hire staff and manage screening equipment, a shift airports say could limit shutdown-related travel disruptions.
Key Takeaways
- Tampa, Charleston, and Des Moines are among the first airports pursuing TSA Gold+ private screening.
- TSA retains regulatory oversight; private firms would hire screeners and manage checkpoint technology.
- Tampa targets a May 31, 2027 transition; current officers get first right of refusal for contractor jobs.
- The American Federation of Government Employees opposes the shift, citing safety and post-9/11 screening standards.
- About 20 U.S. airports already use private screeners under the older Screening Partnership Program.
Which airports are moving away from federal TSA screeners?
Tampa International Airport has opted into the TSA Gold+ program, according to a statement to CNN. Charleston International Airport in South Carolina said it is formally pursuing a transition. Des Moines International Airport in Iowa said it is exploring privatized screening for its new terminal under the same program.
A New York Times report confirmed the three airports are the first to move into the new voluntary public-private model. Tampa's change is targeted for May 31, 2027, a TSA employee told CNN after a town hall. Transition timelines reported for Des Moines and Charleston fall in early 2027.
What does the TSA Gold+ program change for travelers?
Under Gold+, private contractors would hire screening staff and manage security equipment, while the TSA keeps regulatory oversight and checkpoints must follow TSA rules. Participation is voluntary and requires an airport application.
The program expands the existing Screening Partnership Program, already used at 20 U.S. airports including San Francisco International, Kansas City International, and Orlando Sanford. Gold+ goes further by also letting contractors manage screening technology.
Tampa said privatization reduces disruption risks from federal funding lapses or government shutdowns and allows more flexibility on checkpoint infrastructure and technology. Des Moines Airport Authority CEO Brian Mulcahy said travelers would still see professional screening, with newer technology aimed at moving people through more efficiently.
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Why are unions and TSA workers pushing back?
Privatizing TSA screening became a flashpoint after government shutdowns left officers unpaid and produced long airport lines. The White House's latest budget proposal would require small airports to enroll in the Screening Partnership Program, a move the administration said would save $52 million.
The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents about 47,000 TSA officers, vowed to fight the shift. National president Everett Kelley called it a major departure from the aviation screening system Congress created after the Sept. 11 attacks and the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing.
Tampa officers were told they get first right of refusal for jobs with the selected private vendor, CNN reported. Some workers cried at the town hall; others filed retirement paperwork immediately. Union leaders argue privatization is about profit, not safety — a claim airports dispute as they seek operational resilience.