Airlines Confidential · Wednesday, September 2, 2026
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced the discontinuation of its 'Gold Plus' program, an initiative aimed at increasing airport screening privatization. This move follows scrutiny and a decision by Tampa International Airport to withdraw from studying the program. The new TSA administrator, David P. Pekoske, has expressed interest in expanding the existing Screening Partnership Program (SPP) instead.
“The Transportation Security Administration, TSA, announced it was dropping the Gold Plus program. This is an effort to privatize more airport screening.”
“And apparently there are about 20 airports already in that.”
“So, Scott, I know you're kind of an expert on all this and you and Christina had chatted about it extensively. What are your thoughts on the whole thing?”
“What wasn't clear from the beginning what Gold Plus was, other than, you know, an attempt to create headlines around privatization.”