Long TSA lines during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown are reigniting a national debate over whether airport security should remain in federal hands.
Travel disruptions tied to the funding lapse have sharpened calls from some policymakers and commentators to privatize the Transportation Security Administration, particularly as absenteeism among unpaid screeners contributes to delays at airports in Texas and across the country. Lines for passengers to get through TSA have stretched more than four hours at airports in Houston, as The Dallas Express previously reported.
In a direct response to questions about the issue, economist Jeffrey Tucker told The Dallas Express that “TSA should never have been created. It has failed for obvious reasons, and now it is caught in a partisan budget battle. American travel plans should not be held hostage this way.”
His comments reflect a broader push by some lawmakers and policy advocates to shift airport screening responsibilities to private contractors or airlines, arguing that federal control has made the system vulnerable to political gridlock.
A recent editorial in Reason argued that the shutdown is “revealing the folly of nationalized airport security in real time,” pointing to ballooning wait times and rising absenteeism among TSA workers who have gone without pay during the funding lapse. The piece noted that callout rates have increased significantly and that some airports have seen lines stretch well beyond normal conditions.
Some supporters of privatization point to the existing Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which allows airports to use private contractors under federal oversight.
Roughly two dozen U.S. airports participate, and their operations have generally continued uninterrupted during shutdowns because contractor funding is structured differently, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
Advocates argue that expanding this model could reduce delays and insulate airport operations from political disputes. Some also contend that private firms, airlines, and airports would have stronger incentives to balance efficiency with security, since delays directly affect their bottom lines.
Legislative efforts have surfaced in recent years.
In 2025, Senators, including Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), introduced proposals to phase out the TSA and transition screening responsibilities to private entities, citing efficiency concerns and repeated disruptions tied to federal funding battles.
However, critics warn that privatization could introduce new risks.
The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA workers, has strongly opposed such proposals. In a 2025 blog post, the union argued that privatization “could compromise security, accountability,” citing the pre-September 11 environment, when private contractors handled screening with lower pay, high turnover, and less oversight.
Union officials also contend that private companies may prioritize cost-cutting over security, potentially affecting training, staffing levels, and consistency across airports.
Security analysts caution that airport screening is only one component of a broader aviation security system. Airport screening “embodies the strategies employed, technologies deployed and procedures required that keep the national airspace safe,” and operates alongside programs such as Federal Air Marshals and passenger vetting systems, according to an opinion analysis by Sheldon H. Jacobson in The Hill.
The same analysis notes that private contractors can operate checkpoints under federal standards, but warns that aviation security extends beyond those checkpoints and relies on centralized oversight. It concludes that “airport security can be privatized, while aviation security should not,” pointing to the TSA’s role in setting nationwide protocols and coordinating broader security efforts.
Others have suggested a hybrid approach, expanding private screening through existing programs while maintaining federal oversight of standards and strategy, according to AP reporting.
At the same time, representatives from travel industry groups such as the U.S. Travel Association and Airlines for America have urged Congress to prevent future disruptions by guaranteeing pay for airport security workers during shutdowns, arguing that funding lapses—not the system’s structure—are the primary driver of staffing shortages and delays.
