Travelers likely won’t see any immediate effects, and the program requires airports to opt in.
WASHINGTON — The TSA is launching a program that would allow private contractors to operate security lines in airports.
The move further privatizes work primarily being done by federal employees months after a prolonged government shutdown led to long wait lines while federal workers went unpaid.
The Transportation Security Administration announced TSA Gold+ this week, after an internal memo, first reported on by Gate Access, was sent out to TSA employees on May 14.
The memo announcing the new program described it as an “innovative extension” of the agency’s current Screening Partnership Program, which contracts with private companies to provide airline screening at 20 airports around the country.
“TSA Gold+ is an extension of this well-established opt-in program, designed to foster even greater innovation and resilience,” the internal memo shared by Gate Access reads.
A public-facing website, tsa.gov/goldplus, describes the new partnership as “the future of aviation security” but does not provide details about which, if any, private companies have agreed to work with the TSA for the initiative.
It’s also unclear whether funding for the program would be impacted by another government funding showdown like the one earlier this year.
The partial government shutdown in the early months of 2026 left 61,000 TSA workers without paychecks for months. As mass callouts swept airports across the U.S., travelers faced ever-increasing lines at airports, with some waiting hours to make it through understaffed security checkpoints.
At an April 16 hearing, TSA Deputy Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill indicated the agency was considering privatizing some TSA screenings to avoid future delays and travel disruptions.
How will this affect travelers?
It doesn’t appear the new program will have major immediate impacts for most travelers in the U.S.
According to the TSA Gold+ website, airports will be able to opt in to receive a specifically designed screening service based on their location and needs, at no additional cost.
“Airports that opt-in will work with TSA and prospective vendors to develop and deploy solutions that leverage private-sector investment, cutting-edge technology, and human capital,” the website says. “This approach ensures airports meet robust federal security standards while driving operational excellence and responding to consumer needs.”
It is still unclear if fliers would be able to opt out of being screened by private contractors if an airport does join the program.