TSA privatizes airport security at 14 sites through 2031, cutting federal jobs
H.R. 9391 — Reimbursable Screening Services Program Extension Act of 2026 · Filed by Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Jun 23, 2026 · Passed chamber
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What it does
This bill extends the TSA's Reimbursable Screening Services Program from 2026 through 2031 and increases the number of airports that can participate from 8 to 14. The program allows airports to hire private screening contractors paid by the airport rather than TSA, giving airports more flexibility in security staffing while maintaining federal security standards.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is to extend and expand a program that permits airports to contract private security screening rather than rely on TSA-employed screeners. This is a structural shift toward privatization of a federal security function, even though the program remains authorized and overseen by federal law.
What the text implies
- Expansion from 8 to 14 airports nearly doubles the number of checkpoints where private contractors—not federal TSA employees—perform primary security screening, potentially fragmenting training, accountability, and performance standards across the system.
- The bill does not specify performance metrics, safety benchmarks, or audit requirements for the expanded program, leaving quality assurance to existing regulatory language in 49 U.S.C. 44901 note (not quoted here).
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
private airport security contractors; airports (reduced TSA staffing costs); airport operators and concessionaires