U.S. airlines oppose White House airport security mandate proposal
A White House push to shift security screening at smaller airports away from the Transportation Security Administration is drawing opposition from major U.S. carriers. The dispute emerges as President Donald Trump proposes deep staffing and budget cuts at the federal agency that oversees airport security operations.
Highlights
- Airlines for America will urge Congress on Wednesday to keep private security screening voluntary at airports instead of adopting a White House mandate.
- CEO Chris Sununu argues that making private security mandatory would harm the U.S. aviation industry, according to written testimony reviewed by Reuters.
- Trump's proposal includes cutting over 9,400 TSA workers and more than $1.5 billion from the agency's budget, linking security workforce reductions to changes in airport operations.
Airline industry objects to screening change
As reported by Reuters, Airlines for America plans to tell a U.S. House of Representatives committee on Wednesday that private security screening should remain voluntary for airports rather than become mandatory.In written testimony seen by Reuters, Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu says ensuring that private security "remains an option for airports and does not become a mandatory program is paramount to the U.S. aviation industry."
TSA cuts raise broader sector concerns
The opposition comes after Trump last month proposed cutting more than 9,400 workers and just over $1.5 billion from the TSA, which has about 60,000 employees and handles airport security operations.The proposal links a potential operational shift for smaller airports with a broader effort to reduce the federal security agency's workforce and spending, a move with implications for airport operations across the U.S. aviation sector.
Our earlier report on the BUILD America 250 Act covered a bipartisan five-year surface transportation reauthorization introduced in the U.S. House and scheduled for committee markup on May 21, 2026. The proposal outlines major investment plans for roads, bridges, transit and rail, alongside safety and regulatory updates including new rail funding, a framework for autonomous commercial vehicles, and a push to add a new revenue stream for the Highway Trust Fund.
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