The TSA is planning big changes to airport security. Here's what they mean for travelers.
The TSA said it would scrap TSA Gold+ but still plans to accelerate the use of private contractors for airport security.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) unveiled a new security strategy, dubbed Horizon 25, on Monday to mark the agency's 25th anniversary. The plan includes scrapping the controversial TSA Gold+ program, which aimed to increase the use of private contractors for airport security, but the administration remains committed to further privatization.
TSA officials hope to accelerate public-private partnerships through an updated Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which currently allows 20 airports, including San Francisco International Airport, to utilize private security firms for passenger and baggage screening.
The TSA believes that increased private contractor involvement will lead to a safer, more efficient aviation system, but critics argue that this could result in job losses for thousands of TSA workers and weaken worker protections for private contractors. The Horizon 25 strategy also seeks to improve TSA PreCheck, a program that grants pre-screened passengers expedited security lanes, although specifics of the enhancements are not yet known.
Additionally, the TSA plans to streamline the acquisition of new technology and bolster its capabilities to address the risks associated with unmanned aircraft systems, such as drones.
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