Trump Wants to Start Privatizing TSA in Latest Budget Proposal

The White House released its budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal year on Friday, which includes a massive increase in military spending and major cuts to FEMA, federal health agencies, and the EPA, among others. The proposal, which is available online, also includes small steps to privatize the Transportation Security Administration in what’s understood to be a step toward the long term goal of completely abolishing airport security as a government function. “The Budget begins the privatization of TSA’s airport screeners by requiring small airports to enroll in the Screening Partnership Program, under which TSA pays for private screeners at designated airports,” the document released Friday explains. Twenty airports participate in the Screening Partnership Program, which allows them to use private security contractors hired with public money. Some airports have joined and then withdrawn from SPP over the years since it was first instituted in 2004. “The move would yield cost savings compared to Federal screening and begin reform of a troubled Federal agency,” the budget proposal reads. The agency is admittedly troubled, but for extremely obvious reasons. Congress has not passed leg