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TSA staffing issues, airport delays persist amid DHS shutdown
Josh Funk with the Associated Press and Clint Henderson with The Points Guy join LiveNOW's J Russell to discuss how travelers and airports are dealing with the effects of the ongoing DHS shutdown.
The White House wants more airports to privatize Transportation Security Administration screenings in 2027, saying it’d help save money and reform the troubled agency.
Here’s what to know about the budget proposal and TSA privatization:
Trump’s 2027 budget released
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Big picture view:
President Donald Trump and the White House released the 2027 budget proposal on Friday.
RELATED: Trump's budget calls for $1.5 trillion in military spending, cuts to everything else
Dig deeper:
The president’s annual budget is considered a reflection of the administration’s values and does not carry the force of law. The massive document typically highlights an administration’s priorities, but Congress, which handles federal spending issues, is free to reject it and often does.
Congress is still at odds over 2026 funding and how to allocate money to the Department of Homeland Security, causing a record-length partial shutdown that is still ongoing.
TSA cuts, privatization
FILE - A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent looks on passengers queue to go through security at New York's LaGuardia airport on March 22, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
By the numbers:
Overall, the budget requested $63 billion for DHS for 2027, which is a decrease of $2.2 billion, or 3.3%, from 2026, the White House said.
TSA sits under the umbrella of funding for DHS.
Dig deeper:
The budget proposal calls for more small airports to enroll in the TSA’s screening partnership program, under which TSA pays for private screeners.
The budget says $52 million would be cut and saved from TSA’s privatization.
What they're saying:
"The airports that already use this program have demonstrated savings compared to Federal screening operations," the White House said. "The move would yield cost savings compared to Federal screening and begin reform of a troubled Federal agency."
The backstory:
Thousands of TSA workers had gone unpaid during the partial shutdown, causing a shortage of workers and hours-long wait times at several major U.S. airports. Trump signed an executive order last week to get TSA workers their paychecks.
RELATED: TSA security lines: Why some airports are moving passengers through faster
What is TSA privatization?
Meanwhile:
Some airports use a TSA partner screening program, which has helped keep lines moving at some smaller airports and ensured workers get paid on time.
How it works:
The airports are staffed by private contractors under a federal program that allows airports to outsource security screenings while maintaining TSA oversight. These contractors’ paychecks come from a federal contract that’s already been paid out or allocated, so the paychecks often continue even when the government shuts down.
For example:
According to the TSA, these airports use this contracted screening partnership program:
- Atlantic City International Airport
- Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport
- Dawson Community Airport
- Great Falls International Airport
- Glacier Park International Airport
- Greater Rochester International Airport
- Havre City-County Airport
- Kansas City International Airport
- L. M. Clayton Airport
- Orlando Sanford International Airport
- Portsmouth International Airport
- Punta Gorda Airport
- Roswell International Air Center
- San Francisco International Airport
- Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport
- Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport
- Sioux Falls Regional Airport
- Tupelo Regional Airport
- Wokal Field/Glasgow International Airport
- Yellowstone Airport
The other side:
The TSA union, The American Federation of Government Employees, warns privatization could cut pay and protections for workers and introduce security risks.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from the White House 2027 budget proposal. Background information was taken from Reuters, The Associated Press and previous FOX Television Station reporting. This story was reported from Detroit.