As a partial government shutdown continues to disrupt travel across the United States, a surprising number of airports are operating with minimal security delays. At 20 airports nationwide, security screening is handled not by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but by private companies, shielding passengers from the long lines plaguing other major hubs. This arrangement, part of TSA’s Screening Partnership Program (SPP), is proving a significant buffer against the impact of the shutdown, where TSA employees are working without pay.
The difference is stark. While travelers at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have faced wait times exceeding two hours this week due to staffing shortages – more than a third of TSA employees at each airport didn’t report for operate – those flying through airports like San Francisco International (SFO) and Kansas City International (MCI) are experiencing significantly shorter waits. The SPP allows airports to opt for private security contractors under continued TSA oversight, a program established in 2004, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
“These 20 airports are completely oblivious to the government shutdown,” said Sheldon Jacobson, a founder professor of computer science who analyzes data to improve aviation security. VMD Corp., which manages security checkpoints at Kansas City International and Orlando Sanford International Airport, highlighted the efficiency on social media, stating, “The professional teams at our SPP (Screening Partnership Programs) airports have less than 3 minute lines.”
How the Screening Partnership Program Works
The TSA’s Screening Partnership Program allows commercial airports to contract with private companies to handle security screening, while still adhering to TSA security standards and procedures. According to the TSA website, airports interested in joining the program must apply through their local Federal Security Director. The key advantage during the current shutdown is that these private companies continue to pay their employees, unlike federal TSA staff who have gone over a month without a paycheck due to a congressional stalemate over Department of Homeland Security funding related to immigration reform.
Nat Carmack of BOS Security, which screens passengers at Tupelo Regional Airport in Mississippi, explained, “All operations at the privatized airports are normal because we continue paying our employees during the shutdown. Our employees have never missed a paycheck during any of the government shutdowns.” While covering payroll during the shutdown presents a financial burden for these companies, they prioritize maintaining operations. “As a slight business, it’s a burden, but we cover those payrolls until the government reopens and processes our invoices,” Carmack said.
Training and Oversight Remain Consistent
Despite being privately employed, security screeners at SPP airports receive the same level of training as their TSA counterparts. Keith Jeffries, former TSA federal security director at Los Angeles International Airport and current vice president of K2 Security Screening Group, emphasized that “the security screeners with private companies ‘receive the same type of training as TSA.’” All private airport security operations remain under federal oversight and must comply with the same rules as TSA agents, though the companies have autonomy in hiring and compensation decisions.
However, transitioning to a private screening model isn’t a quick fix for airports struggling with staffing issues. According to BOS Security, implementing private screening requires TSA approval, a contract issuance process that can take up to a year, with the company selection taking an additional six months. Jeffries suggests that larger airports may be less inclined to switch, adopting a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude.
Debate Over Privatization
BOS Security points to studies suggesting private contractors can outperform TSA in contraband detection, cost-effectiveness, and employee satisfaction. However, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the union representing TSA screeners, raises concerns that contracts, often awarded to the lowest bidder, could compromise safety and incentivize prioritizing profit over passenger and employee well-being, potentially leading to staff shortages. The AFGE too notes that prior to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, all airport security in the United States was handled by private companies.
Sheldon Jacobson views the arrangement as a “partnership,” drawing parallels to NAV CANADA, which has operated Canada’s air traffic control system since its privatization in 1996. “You don’t set the standards in the private sector,” Jacobson said. “You deliver the final product… in the private sector.”
Airports Utilizing the Screening Partnership Program
The following airports currently utilize the TSA’s Screening Partnership Program:
- Atlantic City International Airport. Recent Jersey
- Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport; California
- Dawson Community Airport; Montana
- Great Falls International Airport; Montana
- Glacier Park International Airport; Montana
- Greater Rochester International Airport; New York
- Havre City-County Airport; Montana
- Kansas City International Airport; Missouri
- L. M. Clayton Airport; Montana
- Orlando Sanford International Airport; Florida
- Portsmouth International Airport; New Hampshire
- Punta Gorda Airport; Florida
- Roswell International Air Center; New Mexico
- San Francisco International Airport; California
- Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport; Florida
- Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport; Montana
- Sioux Falls Regional Airport; South Dakota
- Tupelo Regional Airport; Mississippi
- Wokal Field/Glasgow International Airport; Montana
- Yellowstone Airport; Montana
As the government shutdown continues, the contrasting experiences at these 20 airports highlight the potential benefits – and ongoing debate – surrounding the privatization of airport security screening. The long-term impact of the SPP, and whether more airports will consider the option, remains to be seen as Congress works to resolve the funding impasse and end the shutdown.
What are your thoughts on private airport security? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.
