Tampa airport axes plan to staff TSA checkpoints with private workforce
- On Monday, Tampa International Airport officials announced they will maintain federal Transportation Security Administration screening operations, rejecting the proposed TSA Gold+ privatization program after a months-long review.
- Earlier this year, the TSA approached TPA with Gold+, a public-private partnership program designed to improve operational resilience through private contractor screening under federal oversight.
- AFGE National President Everett Kelley praised the decision, stating "Tampa airport officials made the right call," while Tampa Bay-area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor had urged TPA to reverse privatization plans.
- The Transportation Security Administration is replacing Gold+ with an evolved Screening Partnership Program as part of Administrator David Cummins' Horizon 25 Strategy to modernize checkpoints and elevate traveler experience.
- Charleston International Airport and Des Moines International Airport also announced Gold+ plans last month, but neither provided updates on their decisions as of Monday afternoon, leaving their privatization status uncertain.
12 Articles
12 Articles
TSA to Expand Private Screening at Dozens of U.S. Airports Starting 2026
The Transportation Security Administration is preparing for significant operational shifts at airports across the United States, with plans that include expanded use of private contractors and new timelines for implementing updated screening procedures. According to a recent report from Business Insider, these adjustments could take effect as early as 2026 and reflect a broader effort to address staffing shortages, improve efficiency, and adapt …
TSA ditches Gold+ privatized airport security program
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Monday it will phase out its new Gold+ private airport screening program, opting instead to optimize its existing Screening Partnership Program (SPP). TSA unveiled the change as part of its Horizon 25 Strategy, named in honor of the agency’s 25th anniversary. The strategy will home in on modernizing TSA…
Tampa International Airport officials decide not to privatize security operations
Tampa International Airport, via airport website.Five weeks after Tampa International Airport (TPA) officials said they were considering privatizing security operations, they announced Monday they will continue screening operations with existing federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers. The TSA announced last month a privatization program called TSA Gold + at airports in Charleston, South Carolina, and Des Moines, Iowa. The…
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