Everett Kelley of the American Federation of Government Employees warns against the administration's push to privatize airport security screening.

Everett Kelley, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, expressed concern over the administration's plan to expand private security screening at U.S. airports. The move includes the launch of the TSA Gold+ program, which will transition security operations and technology management to private contractors at Tampa, Charleston, and Des Moines airports. The administration announced that this shift aims to improve operational resilience and reduce disruptions caused by government shutdowns. While the TSA will maintain regulatory oversight and federal security standards, private vendors will manage the daily screening processes. Everett Kelley argued that the move is a "step backwards" from the security systems established after the Sept. 11 attacks. He cautioned that such significant changes should involve more input from Congress and the flying public. While the administration seeks to save money and increase efficiency, the union remains concerned that privatization may prioritize profit over public safety and jeopardize the job security of the 47,000 Transportation Security Officers the union represents.

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