TSA Chief Addresses Possible Privatization
Currently, airport security in the United States is done by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a government agency that is an arm of the Department of Homeland Security. However, there is a possibility that TSA could be privatized in the future, and the agency's head broke her silence on the possibility.
During an oversight hearing before the House Appropriations Committee earlier this month, TSA's Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill was asked whether or not she felt that the agency should be privatized.
McNeill did not give a specific answer, but she did say that 'nothing is off the table' in regard to the agency's future.
'I think … the North Star for us at TSA is making sure that we are driving the highest level of security, the best passenger experience in the most efficient way possible,' McNeill told lawmakers during the May 20 hearing according to USA Today. 'And so if new privatization schemes make sense, then we're happy to have that discussion to see what we can come up with.'
She also said that there is a chance that some airports could choose to privatize TSA while others don't.
'It's not an all-or-nothing game,' she said.
Proponents of a privatization model suggest that it could cut costs, especially for smaller airports, while critics cite concerns about security and works rights as well as the possibility of higher employee turnover.
While many countries around the world use private security at airports, TSA was adopted in response to what was perceived as failures in the private security model, leading to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
It's worth noting that there are currently plans to privatize TSA, but it has been a point of discussion amongst lawmakers and government officials in recent months, so it remains a very real possibility in the future.
TSA Chief Addresses Possible Privatization first appeared on Men's Journal on May 27, 2025
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