Travelers at three U.S. airports may soon notice that the people checking IDs and screening carry-on bags aren't federal TSA employees anymore.

Tampa International Airport, Charleston International Airport and Des Moines International Airport have signed on to a new initiative called TSA Gold+. Under the program, private contractors will take over much of the day-to-day checkpoint operation while the Transportation Security Administration continues to oversee security standards.

The headline makes it sound like these airports are “getting rid of TSA,” but that's not really what is happening.

TSA will still establish the screening requirements, certify personnel, test performance and supervise the overall security operation. The visible officers at the checkpoint, however, will work for a private screening company instead of the federal government.

For most travelers, the immediate questions are pretty straightforward: Will TSA PreCheck still work? Will the rules change? Will the lines be faster? And should anyone plan differently when flying through one of these airports?

What Is TSA Gold+?

TSA Gold+ is a new expansion of the federal Screening Partnership Program, commonly called SPP.

The existing SPP allows an airport to apply for private passenger and baggage screening. A qualified contractor hires and manages the screening workforce, but it operates under a contract with TSA and must follow federal security requirements.

Gold+ takes that model a step further.

Instead of contracting only for checkpoint personnel, TSA is seeking a more complete, turnkey arrangement that combines:

• Passenger and carry-on screening personnel
• Checked-baggage screening
• Security-screening equipment
• Equipment maintenance and repairs
• Training and certification
• Technology upgrades
• Operational and customer-service performance goals

TSA's own procurement documents describe Gold+ as an outcome-based and performance-driven model. In plain English, the contractor will be responsible for running more of the full screening operation rather than simply supplying officers to use government-managed equipment.

Which Airports Are Joining?

The first three announced airports are:

• Des Moines International Airport: Expected to transition in January 2027
• Charleston International Airport: Expected to transition in February 2027
• Tampa International Airport: Expected to transition in May 2027

Those dates are current planning targets rather than guarantees. Contractor selection, hiring, training and installation work could still affect the final schedule.

Are These Airports Really Eliminating TSA?

No. They're changing who performs the screening, not removing TSA from airport security.

Under federal law, TSA must determine that private screening won't compromise security or reduce the effectiveness of passenger and property screening before approving an airport's participation.

The agency also remains responsible for:

• Setting national aviation-security standards
• Approving the contractor and screening equipment
• Certifying and testing screeners
• Conducting federal oversight
• Monitoring security and operational performance
• Responding to intelligence and changing threats

The screening employees themselves will work for a private company, but they must meet federal requirements that apply to TSA personnel performing the same work.

Federal law also requires qualified private screening companies to provide compensation and benefits that aren't less than those provided to comparable federal screening personnel.

Will TSA PreCheck Still Work?

Yes. TSA PreCheck isn't going away at these airports simply because the checkpoint workforce changes.

PreCheck is a federal trusted-traveler screening program. Eligibility is tied to your Known Traveler Number and the indicator on your boarding pass, not whether the officer at the checkpoint receives a federal or private paycheck.

Airports that have used private screeners under the older Screening Partnership Program still offer TSA PreCheck when the airport and checkpoint support it.

Travelers should continue to:

• Add their Known Traveler Number to the airline reservation
• Confirm the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on the boarding pass
• Use the designated PreCheck lane when open
• Follow the instructions given at that particular checkpoint

As always, TSA PreCheck lanes can have different hours from the airport itself, and no individual passenger is guaranteed expedited screening on every trip.

Will the Security Rules Change?

Travelers shouldn't expect a separate set of rules at Gold+ airports.

The same federal framework will continue to determine:

• What can be carried through security
• Liquid and prohibited-item restrictions
• ID requirements
• Standard and TSA PreCheck screening procedures
• Additional screening requirements
• Checked-baggage security

The equipment or checkpoint layout may eventually look different, particularly if contractors introduce newer scanning technology. But contractors can't simply invent their own security rules or decide that federal requirements no longer apply.

TSA's Gold+ solicitation specifically requires equipment to come from the agency's acceptable-capability list. That means any scanners or screening systems must meet TSA standards before they're deployed.

Will Private Screening Make Lines Faster?

Maybe—but travelers shouldn't treat it as a promise.

The strongest argument for the Gold+ model is flexibility. A private contractor may have more freedom to adjust staffing, hire locally, reward performance, maintain equipment and introduce newer technology without navigating every part of the federal employment and procurement process.

The Gold+ contract is also designed around measurable performance. Contractors may be evaluated on factors such as security, wait times, equipment availability, passenger throughput and customer service.

That gives the contractor a financial reason to keep checkpoints moving and equipment operational.

Still, the length of a security line depends on more than who employs the screeners. Wait times can also be affected by:

• The number of lanes physically available
• Passenger surges and airline schedules
• The layout of the terminal
• How many travelers have TSA PreCheck
• Equipment alarms and secondary searches
• Weather disruptions
• Passenger behavior and carry-on contents

A new contractor can't magically create checkpoint space that doesn't exist.

Why Are Airports Interested in the Program?

Airport leaders want more control over an important part of the passenger experience.

Even though airports don't directly manage federal TSA staffing today, travelers often blame the airport when checkpoint lines are long. That leaves airport management responsible for the customer complaints without giving it much direct control over staffing or equipment decisions.

Gold+ gives participating airports a larger role in shaping how security operations fit their terminal, airline schedule and passenger volume.

Supporters also point to government shutdowns.

Federal TSA officers are generally considered essential employees and may be required to continue working during a lapse in federal funding, even when their pay is delayed. Extended shutdowns can lead to absenteeism, resignations and long waits.

Private contractors working under a funded contract may be less directly exposed to that same federal payroll disruption, although the specific resilience of the arrangement will depend on the contract and future circumstances.

Private Airport Screening Isn't New

Gold+ may be new, but privately employed airport screeners aren't.

The Screening Partnership Program has operated for years at a group of U.S. airports. Well-known participants have included San Francisco International Airport and Kansas City International Airport.

Those airports still operate under TSA rules and federal oversight even though many checkpoint officers work for private contractors.

The existing law says an airport can apply for the program, but TSA must approve the application only when the change won't compromise security or hurt screening effectiveness or cost efficiency.

It also requires the private company to employ screeners who meet the same applicable federal requirements and to provide compensation and benefits at least comparable to those received by federal screeners.

Why Is the Program Controversial?

The union representing federal TSA officers strongly opposes the expansion.

The American Federation of Government Employees argues that replacing public-sector officers with private contractors creates risks for both security and the workforce. The union has also criticized the rollout process and raised concerns about broader proposals to reduce the federal TSA workforce.

Supporters see the separation differently. They argue that TSA can operate more effectively as the regulator and supervisor while private companies handle day-to-day screening under contract.

There are reasonable questions on both sides:

• Will performance incentives actually improve the passenger experience?
• Will private staffing remain stable during busy periods?
• How closely will TSA monitor contractor performance?
• Will the government enforce contract penalties when standards aren't met?
• Will security equipment be upgraded faster?
• Will experienced federal officers remain in the workforce after the transition?

Because Gold+ is a new version of the privatized model, the most honest answer is that we'll need real operating data after the airports transition.

What Happens to Current TSA Employees?

Current federal officers won't simply become private employees automatically.

Reports about the first transitions say affected employees are expected to receive priority or a right of first refusal for jobs with the selected contractor, subject to the hiring and suitability requirements.

Some may accept contractor positions. Others may pursue federal transfers, retirement or different employment.

The federal Screening Partnership Program law requires private screening companies to provide compensation and benefits that aren't less than those provided to comparable federal screening personnel. The final employment details, however, will depend on the contracts and individual job offers.

For travelers, retaining experienced staff may be one of the most important parts of a smooth transition. A completely new workforce learning the airport and checkpoint operation from scratch could create short-term friction even if the long-term plan is sound.

Could More Airports Join?

Yes.

Gold+ is being developed as a broader contract vehicle rather than a three-airport experiment with no room to grow. Other airport operators can evaluate the program and apply to TSA.

Atlanta has already explored the privatized model, and interest could increase if the first Gold+ airports report shorter lines, better equipment uptime or more predictable staffing.

On the other hand, airports may hesitate if the early transitions are expensive, disruptive or fail to produce visible passenger benefits.

The first three airports will effectively become the program's most important case studies.

What Should Travelers Do Differently?

For now, not much.

If you're flying through Tampa, Charleston or Des Moines before the scheduled 2027 transitions, you'll continue using the existing TSA operation.

Once Gold+ begins, your basic preparation shouldn't change:

• Check the airport's live security wait times when available
• Confirm which checkpoint serves your airline or gate
• Review TSA rules before packing
• Make sure your Known Traveler Number appears on the reservation
• Allow extra time during holidays and peak departure banks
• Don't assume PreCheck will be open at every checkpoint all day

If a long checkpoint delay causes you to miss a flight, the airline's obligation may depend on the circumstances, fare rules and whether it considers you to have arrived on time.

That's why arriving at the airport early remains important even when an airport advertises short average wait times.

The Award Trip Planning Checklist can help you organize airport timing, separate tickets, hard arrival deadlines and backup options before travel day.

Would Travel Insurance Cover a Missed Flight?

Potentially, but don't assume a long security line is automatically covered.

Travel-delay, missed-connection and trip-interruption benefits are triggered by specific covered events listed in the policy. An ordinary airport-security delay may not qualify unless it results from a covered reason or meets the policy's exact definition and waiting period.

Credit-card travel protection works the same way: the fact that a delay happened doesn't automatically mean the resulting expenses are eligible.

Before relying on coverage, review:

• The covered reasons
• The required delay duration
• Whether the entire or partial trip must be charged to the card
• Missed-connection requirements
• Documentation rules
• Per-person and per-trip reimbursement limits

Use the Credit Card Coverage Tool to identify possible gaps and the Travel Insurance Fit Check when deciding whether a standalone policy is worth comparing.

For a personalized review, you can also submit the Travel Insurance Intake Form.

Getting to the Point(s)

TSA Gold+ sounds more dramatic than it will probably feel to the average traveler.

The officers at the checkpoint may work for a private contractor, and the uniforms or equipment may look different, but federal screening rules and TSA oversight will remain.

The real test won't be the branding. It'll be whether the contractors can maintain reliable staffing, keep equipment working, introduce better technology and consistently move passengers through security without lowering standards.

Tampa, Charleston and Des Moines are scheduled to begin transitioning in 2027, so travelers won't see the full effect immediately. Even after launch, it'll take time to determine whether the new model actually creates shorter lines or simply changes the name on the employees' paychecks.

For now, keep using TSA PreCheck as normal, arrive with enough time and don't expect a private checkpoint to rescue an itinerary built around an unrealistically short airport arrival window.

Sources & Further Reading

• MilesFeed: Current points, miles and travel headlines
• Department of Homeland Security: TSA Gold+ acquisition forecast
• SAM.gov: Official TSA Gold+ commercial-services solicitation
• U.S. Code: Screening Partnership Program requirements
• CBS News: Tampa, Charleston and Des Moines join TSA Gold+
• Federal News Network: Early Gold+ airport transitions and employee plans
• Government Accountability Office: Oversight of private versus federal screening performance
• TSA: TSA PreCheck eligibility and program information

Airport participation, transition dates, contractor assignments, staffing plans, checkpoint hours and screening procedures can change. TSA Gold+ remains under federal oversight, but final operating details for each airport haven't been fully announced. Always check the airport and TSA websites before travel.