Trump Administration's TSA Gold+ Program Aims to Expand Airport Security Privatization
The Trump administration is advancing a new initiative, TSA Gold+, to expand the privatization of airport security across the United States. This program allows airports to contract private companies for security screenings, diverging from the traditional model of federal TSA agents. The initiative builds on the existing Screening Partnership Program, which already permits some airports to use private contractors. The administration's budget for fiscal year 2027 includes a request for $477 million to privatize security at all Category III and IV airports, potentially affecting 220 out of approximately 440 commercial airports. The move is part of a broader push for privatization across various federal agencies. 
