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Updated on: July 23, 2026 / 5:11 PM EDT
/ CBS News
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The Tampa, Charleston and Des Moines airports have signed on to a new program to privatize airport security, the Transportation Security Administration told CBS News.Under the new initiative, called TSA Gold+, TSA would maintain oversight of security standards and operations but would use private contractors for screening instead of federal workers.Gold+ is an expansion of the Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which similarly allows airports to hire private contractors to conduct security screening under federal oversight. Launched in 2004 by the TSA, the program operates at 20 airports across the U.S., including San Francisco International Airport and Kansas City International Airport."The new TSA Gold+ program mostly expands on what those contractors are allowed to manage, including the actual screening technology," said Julian Kheel, founder of travel rewards site Points Path.In an email seen by CBS News from the TSA to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), a union that represents airport employees, the agency listed January 2027 as the projected launch period for Gold+ at the Des Moines airport, February 2027 for Charleston and May 2027 for Tampa. The email also mentions briefings the agency held at the participating airports to discuss the Gold+ program and its potential impact on employees at Tampa, Des Moines and Charleston airports."TSA Gold+ presents a new way for airports to deliver exceptional service to every traveler, while advancing security, efficiency, and the overall airport experience," a TSA spokesperson said in an email to CBS News. "Throughout the transition of these airports, we remain committed to operational stability and supporting our employees."
