Union Sues TSA Over 'TSA Gold+' — Alleges Secretive Push to Privatize Airport Screening

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents roughly 47,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at more than 400 U.S. airports, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking records connected to a new program called TSA Gold+ that would expand privatized airport screening.

The complaint was filed Aug. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. AFGE alleges the agency carried out a "secretive push" to advance a public-private partnership without proper disclosure, missed statutory deadlines responding to a May Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, and unlawfully withheld records the union sought.

Union Says It Learned "By Accident"

According to the union, AFGE discovered details about TSA Gold+ after a flyer appeared at Orlando International Airport in April. That discovery prompted the FOIA request and the subsequent lawsuit seeking to compel the release of documents the union believes the TSA is legally required to provide.

What Is TSA Gold+?

TSA describes TSA Gold+ as "the next evolution" of the long-running Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which already allows private contractors to operate screening at about 20 airports under federal oversight. Under TSA Gold+, airports would be able to opt into a tailored public-private partnership where third-party contractors perform screening while the agency maintains supervisory responsibilities.

"This approach encourages private investment, accelerates technological innovation, and enhances the passenger experience while maintaining the highest levels of security and insulating frontline operations from federal budget uncertainty," the agency said in a May statement.

Concerns From the Union

AFGE General Counsel Rushab Sanghvi told USA TODAY the union is worried not just about privatization of federal jobs but about a lack of transparency surrounding the rollout. "I don't think it's any sort of surprise that a union and AFGE would be concerned about the privatization of federal jobs," Sanghvi said. "But I think this is even worse because they're pushing through this privatization effort sort of in the shadows without much information to the public."

Chris Finlay, president of AFGE Local 556 and a TSA officer for more than 20 years, warned that private contractors often reduce costs by cutting pay or benefits. "The biggest part of the private contract is going to be staffing. That's the most expensive part," Finlay said. "And when you're trying to cut costs, where do you think you're going to pull the money from? Staffing."

Operational Context

The legal challenge comes amid concern about operational resilience. The recent 75-day government shutdown produced long airport lines and left roughly 61,000 TSA officers working without pay, a fact the union cites when arguing for more stable, publicly accountable screening operations.

Three airports are currently set to implement TSA Gold+ next year: Charleston International Airport, Tampa International Airport and Des Moines International Airport. A Tampa International Airport spokesperson told USA TODAY the decision is intended to reduce disruption risks tied to funding lapses such as shutdowns.

TSA's Response And Promises

TSA has said that federal officers will have the first right of refusal for jobs with private vendors and that contractors will be required to provide commensurate pay and benefits. The union remains skeptical that those protections will fully prevent reductions in pay, benefits, or staffing levels that could affect public safety.

The AFGE says it filed the lawsuit to compel legally required disclosures under FOIA and expects the records to show whether the agency complied with the law in developing and promoting TSA Gold+. The TSA did not provide a comment in response to requests from USA TODAY.