TSA’s Gold+ Private Screening Program Expands to Tampa, Charleston and Des Moines

Three more airports have joined TSA Gold+, the agency’s public-private initiative aimed at modernizing checkpoint screening. Tampa International, Charleston International in South Carolina, and Des Moines International in Iowa will each transition to a private screening contractor under the program, adding to the growing list of US airports that have opted into the model over the past year.

Under TSA Gold+, day-to-day screening operations are handled by a private security company operating under federal oversight and standards, while TSA retains regulatory authority over security policy. Airports that have adopted the model point to more consistent staffing and shorter checkpoint lines as key motivations, particularly at airports that have struggled to keep federal screener rosters fully staffed.

The expansion comes as airport security funding remains a persistent concern industry-wide. Chronic underfunding at TSA, driven in part by the diversion of September 11 Security Fee revenue to other budget priorities, has pushed more airports to explore private screening partnerships as a way to stabilize checkpoint operations without waiting on federal appropriations.

Travelers passing through Tampa, Charleston or Des Moines shouldn’t expect major changes to the screening experience itself, since Gold+ contractors still follow TSA’s security procedures, including identification checks and prohibited-item rules. The shift is mostly operational, though travelers may notice new uniforms or signage as the transition rolls out at each airport in the coming months.

Sources: Direct Travel News Brief, TSA.gov