Tampa, Charleston, Des Moines privatize screening

Tampa International Airport, Charleston International Airport and Des Moines International Airport are moving to private checkpoint screening under the Transportation Security Administration’s Screening Partnership Program, rebranded by TSA as Gold+, with the change set for 2027. TSA says the model keeps federal oversight in place while contractors perform screening operations under TSA standards. Tampa and Charleston have publicly described the shift as a way to add technology and reduce disruption tied to federal funding lapses, while TSA says Gold+ is designed to pair private screening contracts with faster deployment of new systems. CLEAR, a separate airport identity company, said on August 6 that it had 280 retail locations offering TSA PreCheck enrollment as of June 30 and biometric eGates operating at 50 airports. The company said it remained on track for a network-wide eGate rollout in 2026 and reported “continued strong momentum” for its CLEAR1 identity platform. (news.tampaairport.com) ### Are these airports “getting rid of TSA”? TSA says no. Under the Screening Partnership Program, private screeners work under TSA direction and oversight, and the TSA federal security director remains in charge of security, incident management and stakeholder relations. TSA says private vendors must follow the same standard operating procedures, use TSA-provided screening technology and comply with federal rules on pat-downs, imaging technology and prohibited items. (ir.clearme.com) Charleston International said the same in its July 22 announcement, stating that TSA will continue to establish security requirements, oversee screening operations, conduct inspections and ensure compliance with federal aviation security regulations. Tampa said TSA will continue to set security standards and oversee performance under federal law. (tsa.gov) ### Which airports are changing, and when? Tampa said on July 28 that Tampa, Des Moines and Charleston are the first three airports to participate in the newly branded TSA Gold+ program. Tampa said the private operator would staff security screening checkpoints at its four airsides. Charleston said on July 22 that it was formally pursuing the transition. Des Moines is named by Tampa as one of the three participating airports, though its airport website has not posted a matching public announcement in the materials reviewed. (iflychs.com) Des Moines International is also preparing to open its new terminal in January 2027, according to the airport’s website. That places the screening change alongside a broader terminal expansion already underway at the Iowa airport. ### Why are Tampa and Charleston saying they want this model? Tampa said the move would reduce disruption risk during federal appropriations lapses and let the airport explore new checkpoint technology on a commercial timeline rather than a federal procurement schedule. (news.tampaairport.com) The airport cited a 75-day partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown earlier this year, said attrition among TSA officers at Tampa had nearly doubled to 14% after that shutdown, and said replacements take four to six months to hire and certify. (flydsm.com) Charleston President and CEO Elliott Summey said the initiative would give current TSA officers who want to stay the chance to move to the contractor at equivalent pay and benefits. Summey said workers would no longer face missed paychecks during future federal shutdowns and said the airport expected next-generation screening technology to improve checkpoint efficiency. (news.tampaairport.com) ### What changes for travelers at the checkpoint? TSA says wait times are similar at federalized and privatized airports and that screening standards do not change under the private-screening model. That means ID checks, prohibited-item rules and screening procedures remain federal requirements even if the officers at the checkpoint work for a contractor. (iflychs.com) TSA says Gold+ is intended to bring “cutting-edge aviation security solutions” and let airports use private capital to speed technology deployment. Tampa and Charleston both said travelers should expect the same security standards, with any visible differences more likely to come from staffing arrangements or new equipment than from looser rules. (tsa.gov) ### Where does CLEAR fit into this story? CLEAR is not the screening contractor announced by those airports. TSA lists CLEAR as one of the authorized providers for TSA PreCheck enrollment, alongside IDEMIA and Telos, and CLEAR’s consumer materials say travelers can apply for or renew PreCheck through its locations. (tsa.gov) CLEAR said in its August 6 earnings release that it had 280 TSA PreCheck enrollment retail locations, 62 CLEAR+ airports and eGates at 50 airports. The company did not say in that release that it would run checkpoint screening at Tampa, Charleston or Des Moines. (tsa.gov) TSA says airports that want to join the Screening Partnership Program apply through their local federal security director, and the agency says applicants receive notification within 60 days. Tampa, Charleston and Des Moines are identified by Tampa as the first three Gold+ airports, with Des Moines also targeting January 2027 for its new terminal opening. (tsa.gov) (ir.clearme.com)