TSA faces calls for privatization as its baggage grows
Image: Ronaldo Schemidt
Government shutdowns can feel abstract until you’re dragging a suitcase through a TSA line that barely moves.
That’s currently the case at several major airports across the US this week, where 3+-hour-long security lines due to staffing shortages have revived a long-running debate on Capitol Hill: should airport security be privatized?
Catch up quick: The current situation is essentially a repeat of last year’s 43-day government shutdown, when TSA officers were also required to continue working even after their paychecks stopped coming in. As the shutdown dragged on, absenteeism among TSA staff rose while security lines slowed at many airports.
- Now, TSA officers are once again working without pay until federal funding is restored.
- And with airlines expecting one of the busiest spring break travel seasons on record, even small slowdowns at checkpoints can lead to major travel disruptions.
The privatization proposal
Some aviation experts and lawmakers say disruptions like these could be reduced through a TSA program that allows airports to outsource security screening to private contractors, with the federal government still maintaining oversight.
About two dozen US airports currently use the system, including those in San Francisco, Kansas City, Atlantic City, and Orlando.
- Those in favor of privatizing US airport security cite the fact that contractors are paid through pre-approved federal contracts, meaning their pay typically continues even if the government shuts down.
- They also note that SF International Airport has used private screening contractors for 20+ years and ranks among America’s 15 busiest airports, suggesting the model can work at large international hubs.
On the flip side: Opponents of privatizing airport security argue it could weaken accountability for America’s national security, which is ultimately the government’s responsibility.
- The TSA officers’ union also contends that private contractors may face economic pressure to reduce costs and cut staff, training, and/or benefits—while the gov’t can provide consistent support.
- Instead, some groups suggest Congress approve a new law guaranteeing that TSA officers and other aviation workers are paid during shutdowns.
Looking ahead…Negotiations on Capitol Hill over the ongoing DHS shutdown have fizzled since mid-February, with both sides saying they remain far apart on substantive issues.
📊 Flash poll: In general, do you support or oppose the idea of privatizing airport security to replace the TSA?
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Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that if the government can’t keep airport security running smoothly during something like a shutdown, it might be time to rethink why it runs the system at all, saying private companies could handle screening more efficiently while still operating under federal safety standards.
- Others contend that despite complaints about long lines and screening rules, the TSA’s national security framework and risk-based programs like PreCheck make the system safer overall, and that scrapping the agency could lead to less consistent and potentially weaker airport security.
- “Privatize airport security” –Washington Post Editorial Board
- “TSA isn’t perfect, but it’s way better than the alternatives” –Sheldon H. Jacobson, The Hill
- “TSA is vital, but sometimes seems incompetent.” –Tony Quesada, San Antonio Express-News
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the TSA has become an inefficient, bureaucratic system that creates long lines, confusing rules, and what they see as “security theater,” and that airport screening would likely work better if the government stepped back and let private companies handle the job instead.
- Others contend that the TSA has grown into an expensive and inefficient bureaucracy that costs taxpayers billions each year while failing key security tests, arguing that airport security could work just as well or better if private companies handled the job under federal oversight.
- “One great way to improve Homeland Security: Get rid of the TSA” –New York Post Editorial Board
- “Abolish the TSA” –Washington Examiner Editorial Board
- “Can we just abolish the TSA and start over already?” –Nicole Russell, USA Today
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