The Trump administration is seizing the opportunity presented by partial federal government shutdowns and a new budget proposal to push forward with expanding pilot programs for privatizing airport security screenings. This move has reignited long-standing debates over the U.S. aviation security system. Last week, the White House proposed allocating $52 million in its budget to initiate the privatization of TSA airport screening personnel. Currently, 20 airports across the United States already employ private screeners to conduct passenger and baggage screening. Supporters argue that this model can enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and reduce the risk of airport security operations being disrupted by congressional budget stalemates. Some conservative voices also back this direction, criticizing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as costly and in urgent need of reform. Advocates cite San Francisco International Airport as an example, noting that it remained largely unaffected during this year’s shutdown, and point out that mixed models—government regulation with private execution—have long been in use in Europe and other regions. However, opponents worry that such a shift could undermine the core achievements of the federal government’s post-9/11 reconstruction of aviation security. Although the TSA has demonstrated operational fragility during recent shutdowns, after decades of institutional adjustments, the federally led screening system remains widely regarded as the most reliable option available today. This debate extends beyond mere questions of efficiency or cost—it touches on a deeper issue: whether the United States is prepared to partially return responsibilities in what is fundamentally a national security domain to the marketplace.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861972547407115/
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