Summary
Twenty airports in the United States use private companies to handle security checks instead of TSA staff. This has helped them avoid long lines seen at other airports during a government shutdown because private companies continue paying their employees.
Key Facts
- 20 U.S. airports use private contractors instead of TSA for security.
- These airports are part of the TSA's Screening Partnership Program (SPP).
- Private companies at these airports follow all TSA security rules.
- The use of private staff has prevented long lines at these airports during the government shutdown.
- Airports in the SPP program reported having lines shorter than three minutes.
- TSA workers have been unpaid since the Department of Homeland Security's partial shutdown.
- Around 50,000 TSA employees are working without pay due to the shutdown.
- President Donald Trump planned to send ICE agents to help TSA workers.
