Tampa International Airport has rejected a federal program that would replace TSA officers at its checkpoints with private screeners after spending several months studying whether the change could protect passenger screening from future government shutdowns.
The TSA approached TPA earlier this year about TSA Gold+, which puts checkpoint screening in the hands of a private contractor while leaving the federal agency in charge of oversight.
TPA agreed to evaluate the model in part because federal funding disruptions can threaten airport operations. The airport also wanted to determine whether Gold+ could provide better access to screening technology and improve the passenger experience.
That review examined the program’s security, workforce, financial, technological and legal implications, but TPA decided to remain with its federal screeners.
CEO Michael Stephens said the existing TSA team has carried the airport through record passenger growth, severe weather, federal funding disruptions and peak travel periods. Passenger screening at TPA will continue without a change in workforce.