The Transportation Security Administration has notified the American Federation of Government Employees that it plans to launch a new security privatization initiative, called TSA Gold+, at three domestic airports next year.
According to the union, which represents approximately 47,000 Transportation Security Officers nationwide, the program will initially launch at airports in Tampa, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; and Des Moines, Iowa.
Under the initiative, private contractors will manage passenger and carry-on screening operations as well as the screening technology used to detect weapons and explosives. TSA personnel will maintain theoretical oversight but will no longer directly conduct screening operations at the participating locations…