After a fraught past year of government shutdowns leading to long airport security lines, the Transportation Security Administration is launching a new public-private partnership program called TSA Gold+.

As first reported by Gate Access, TSA shared an internal memo with employees on May 14 announcing the new program as an "innovative extension" of the Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which currently contracts with private companies to operate the security screening of air passengers at 20 U.S. airports under TSA guidelines.

"As the next evolution of the Screening Partnership Program (SPP), TSA Gold+ is a transformative upgrade to offer airports the opportunity to 'opt in' to a public-private screening model tailored to their unique needs, ensuring continuity and operational stability even during federal government shutdowns," TSA told USA TODAY in a statement.

What is TSA Gold+?

According to the TSA Gold+ website, this program is "a new public-private partnership aimed at modernizing aviation security at select airports across the United States." It will expand upon the current SPP model by redirecting funds into long-term partnerships with "leading industry operators" with oversight from TSA.

Airports can opt in to TSA Gold+ to receive a tailored security screening service based on their needs and space, with support from TSA and private vendors. These improvements won't come at an additional cost to the airports, as that's managed by the industry partners.

"TSA Gold+ marks a significant evolution in the agency’s approach to aviation security," the agency said. "This approach encourages private investment, accelerates technological innovation, and enhances the passenger experience while maintaining the highest levels of security and insulating frontline operations from federal budget uncertainty."

Not everyone is in favor of TSA moving closer to privatization. Some opponents, such as the Association of Federal Government Employees, a union representing TSA agents, say TSA's main goal is to protect air travelers, whereas they say private companies focus on profit.

How does this impact travelers?

Passengers shouldn't see major changes immediately, but the program's goal is to streamline airport security screenings while also reducing the federal agency's budget, according to the TSA Gold+ website.

Airports that implement the public-private screenings will also be able to continue during government shutdowns since they don't depend solely on federal budget cycles, the agency added. (Source: USA Today)

Story Date: May 20, 2026