The recent partial government shutdown has caused significant travel disruptions at many major U.S. airports due to long security lines and staffing shortages. However, some airports have managed to avoid these issues by using private screening contractors instead of federally employed TSA officers.
Currently, at least 20 airports across the country are part of the Transportation Security Administration’s Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which was created in 2004. This program enables private companies to carry out security screenings while being overseen by the TSA. As reported by Business Insider, this arrangement helps maintain smoother operations.
Travelers may not even recognize a difference since private screeners are required to meet the same federal standards as TSA personnel. Daniel Babb, a civil aviation expert at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, pointed out that all commercial screening employees must undergo training and follow TSA security protocols. Interestingly, airports deploying private contractors experience fewer disruptions during shutdowns.
The reason is that private screeners are paid through pre-funded federal contracts, so they aren’t affected as TSA employees are during such budgetary crises.
Some of the airports participating in the SPP include San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Kansas City International Airport (MCI), in addition to several smaller regional airports like Orlando Sanford in Florida and various locations in Montana.
According to Doug Yeakel, a spokesman for SFO, their screeners have continued to receive paychecks during the shutdown, helping to maintain a reliable workforce while other airports struggle with staffing.
With over 360 TSA officers resigning amid the funding impasse, the TSA’s staffing issues have only intensified. Even at Kansas City International Airport, operations are reportedly continuing normally with the help of private contractors, as noted by Business Insider.
BOS Security, another TSA-approved contractor, highlighted that private screening can be both more efficient and cost-effective compared to federal staff, often leading to lower turnover rates.
While access to private screening remains somewhat limited, Babb believes that the model is becoming more relevant given the current government shutdown—this being the second one in a five-month span. He mentioned that airports might start “experimenting” more with commercial testing programs to identify the best solutions moving forward.
On the flip side, critics like labor groups express concerns that privatization might compromise safety and accountability. John Pistol, a former TSA Administrator, emphasized that security operations should fundamentally be a government responsibility. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has raised alarms about the profit-driven motives of private companies, arguing that their focus on earnings can detract from the well-being of both travelers and workers.
Babu also underscored the struggles faced by TSA officers during the shutdown, many of whom are working without pay. He urged travelers to be patient and suggested that Congress needs to reach a temporary solution soon.
Amidst this chaos, Elon Musk has offered to cover the salaries of TSA employees during the financial turmoil. However, it’s uncertain whether such an offer is legally feasible.
