TSA replaces Gold+ initiative with evolved screening partnership program

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced a new strategic plan called ‘Horizon 25’, which includes the discontinuation of the ‘TSA Gold+’ initiative. This program was designed to expand the use of private contractors for airport security through performance-driven contracts.

In place of Gold+, the agency intends to accelerate public-private partnerships by evolving the existing Screening Partnership Program (SPP). The SPP already allows qualified private companies to conduct passenger and baggage screening under federal supervision at various locations, including San Francisco International Airport.

The shift has faced criticism from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which argues that privatization may jeopardize public safety and threaten federal jobs. Conversely, the TSA maintains that increased private-sector involvement will create a ‘safer, more secure, and more efficient aviation system.’

For travelers, the immediate impact varies by location. While the strategy aims to modernize checkpoints and improve the passenger experience, airports like Orlando International Airport (MCO) were not planning to adopt the Gold+ program, meaning travelers at that specific hub should not expect immediate changes to their security checkpoints.