Sunita Somvanshi
Tampa International Airport announced on August 24 that it is withdrawing from the TSA Gold+ program, a proposed pilot initiative that would have used private security contractors for checkpoint screening under TSA oversight. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority made the decision following an evaluation of the program. Days later, TSA Administrator David Cummins announced the agency was canceling the Gold+ program nationwide.
Gold+ was the TSA’s proposed new model for private airport security. Under the program, a private security operator would have conducted checkpoint screening at selected airports while the TSA remained responsible for setting security standards and overseeing compliance. Tampa, which processes approximately 70,000 passengers daily, was under consideration for the pilot because airport leaders had identified operational advantages.
For Tampa air travelers, the outcome is operationally straightforward: security checkpoints will continue to be staffed by federal TSA Transportation Security Officers. TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, and standard security screening will remain unchanged.
