Content
Recent Posts
TSA Gold+: What the New Airport Security Program Means
On May 14, 2026, the TSA sent an internal memo to employees announcing the launch of TSA Gold+, an expansion of the existing Screening Partnership Program, the framework that already allows private contractors to run security at 20 U.S. airports.
The following day, the agency posted a formal pre-solicitation notice on SAM.gov that includes a draft Performance Work Statement, evaluation factors, and an invitation to an Industry Day at TSA headquarters in Springfield, Virginia, on May 21. Written feedback on the draft framework is due May 25.
Content
What TSA Gold+ Is
The existing Screening Partnership Program lets private companies staff security checkpoints at select airports while TSA owns the equipment. TSA Gold+ changes the scope significantly.
Under Gold+, contractors would handle both the staffing and the technology, including procurement, deployment, tech upgrades, and ongoing maintenance, while TSA continues setting security standards and maintaining regulatory oversight. The program is voluntary and opt-in for airports.
The pre-solicitation describes Gold+ as "a transformative initiative to modernize aviation security at select U.S. airports through robust public-private partnership" and calls for integrated, outcome-based contracts covering workforce, technology, and maintenance, all under TSA regulatory oversight.
Why TSA Says It Needs This
The agency is under serious financial strain. Passenger volume has grown roughly 28 percent over the past decade, while the officer workforce has grown only about 8 percent. Equipment maintenance costs have roughly doubled, reaching an estimated $600 million in 2026. The TSA's timeline for replacing older baggage screening machines with CT scanners is currently projected to stretch into the 2040s.
A partial government shutdown made the situation worse. Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told Congress in April that TSA workers had missed nearly $1 billion in paychecks this fiscal year. Screeners at privately operated airports continued to be paid throughout, since their contracts are pre-funded outside the federal appropriations process.
McNeill has pointed to that distinction as a core argument for Gold+. "Expanding SPP is one of the many avenues the Trump administration is pursuing to help protect our screening workforce from lapses in congressional appropriations. In contrast, SPP screeners have not yet missed a paycheck," she told Congress in April.
The Trump administration's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal calls for shifting all Category III and IV airports, the smallest in TSA's categorization system and representing roughly 60 percent of airports with scheduled service, into the existing SPP model, projecting a net savings of approximately $52 million. Gold+ goes further, targeting select airports with a more expansive structure that includes technology ownership.
What Changes for Travelers
Federal security rules stay the same regardless of who operates the checkpoint. TSA sets the standards, certifies equipment, and conducts audits under Gold+ just as it does today.
The visible difference at participating airports would be the technology.
Gold+ is designed to accelerate the rollout of biometric ID verification, faster CT scanners that allow passengers to leave liquids and laptops in their bags, and automated bin return systems. Contracts are written around throughput and performance metrics, meaning private vendors are financially incentivized to keep lines moving.
There is no additional fee for travelers at Gold+ checkpoints. TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, and Global Entry all continue to function normally.
The Concerns
Not everyone sees Gold+ as straightforward progress. A former Department of Homeland Security official noted there could be concerns about Gold+ creating another tangle of varying airport security systems across the country.
Labor is also a question. Workforce standards and pay at private contractors need to remain competitive with federal TSA roles, or screener quality could decline over time. TSA's regulatory role only works if those standards are enforced consistently at every Gold+ airport.
In addition to Gold+, DHS has also sought to strip TSA airport screeners of their union rights, a directive currently being challenged in federal court.
Which Airports Are Affected
Gold+ is still in early stages. Specific participating airports have not been confirmed publicly, though the internal memo noted that "a handful of airports have expressed strong interest." The most likely early candidates are airports already operating under the existing Screening Partnership Program, including San Francisco International, Kansas City International, and Orlando Sanford International.
For more articles like this, visit our Lifestyle News Page!