TSA ends Gold+ private screening initiative, revamps existing program
The Transportation Security Administration announced it will phase out its Gold+ private airport screening program, which was launched earlier this year. The agency will instead focus on improving its existing Screening Partnership Program, which already involves 20 airports. TSA Administrator David Cummins said the change is part of a broader strategy to modernize security checkpoints and enhance traveler experience.
The Gold+ program, introduced earlier this year, had allowed airports to contract private firms for screening while maintaining federal oversight. Its phase-out redirects attention to the existing Screening Partnership Program, which already operates at roughly two dozen airports, including Kansas City, Orlando Sanford, and San Francisco. Under SPP, private vendors use TSA-owned equipment while federal security directors retain authority over incident management and stakeholder relations.
Tampa International Airport declined to pursue Gold+ after review, a decision welcomed by the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 47,000 TSA officers. The union has also filed a lawsuit seeking records related to the program's development, alleging the agency promoted it to contractors without adequate transparency. Administrator Cummins framed the shift as part of a broader modernization strategy ahead of the agency's 25th anniversary.
This reversal could affect travelers at airports considering privatized screening, as the short-lived Gold+ experiment signaled potential changes to checkpoint operations. The decision may reassure federal TSA officers concerned about job security, while airports seeking flexibility in security procedures could see fewer options. How the evolved SPP balances efficiency, passenger experience, and security standards will likely shape public confidence in aviation screening.