Sponsors (5)
The bill gives airports flexibility and taxpayers better cost transparency while keeping federal security oversight — but it reduces passenger liability options, risks job shifts for federal screeners, and may raise costs or complicate competition through ownership and administrative rules.
Passengers and transportation workers keep federal security protections because TSA retains supervisory authority, covert testing, remedial training, and federal personnel standards for private screeners.
Taxpayers and Congress gain greater transparency through annual, public TSA reports comparing private-contractor performance and the full federal cost of screening.
Airport operators and local governments receive required direct cost comparisons and increased price transparency between private-contracted and federal-staffed screening, helping identify potential savings and avoid excess spending.
Passengers face reduced legal recourse because airport operators are shielded from liability for negligence by private screeners, limiting compensation avenues for harmed travelers.
Federal screening employees and transportation workers may lose jobs or face altered employment terms as screening duties shift to private firms.
Airport operators and taxpayers could face higher costs because the requirement that private firms be U.S.-owned or -controlled may limit competition and keep prices elevated.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Allows airports to hire TSA-listed private screening firms, sets qualification and oversight rules, limits certain airport liabilities, and requires annual public performance and cost comparisons with Federal screening.
Introduced March 27, 2026 by Scott Perry · Last progress March 27, 2026
Allows airport operators to contract with TSA-listed private screening companies to perform passenger and property screening. Sets application and personnel requirements for those companies, requires short-notice notifications and transition plans by airports, directs TSA to maintain a public list and provide oversight (including Federal supervisors, covert testing, and remedial training), and requires annual public reports comparing private and Federal screening performance and costs. The bill also narrows airport-operator liability for claims arising from negligence or intentional wrongdoing by contracted private screeners or Federal supervisors, while preserving other liabilities and referencing SAFETY Act protections.