Which 3 airports are switching over to TSA Gold and when?

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What happens to items surrendered to TSA?

What happens to items surrendered to TSA?

(NEXSTAR) – Three of America’s airports are planning to participate in the Transportation Security Administration’s new TSA Gold program, an initiative aiming to privatize security at an increasing number of traveler checkpoints in the coming years.

Those three airports are said to be Charleston International Airport in South Carolina, Des Moines International Airport in Iowa and Tampa International Airport in Florida.

A TSA spokesperson did not provide a timeline for each airport’s switchover to privatized security.

“TSA Gold presents a new way for airports to deliver exceptional service to every traveler, while advancing security, efficiency, and the overall airport experience,” a TSA representative told Nexstar when asked about interest in the TSA Gold program. “Throughout the transition of these airports, we remain committed to operational stability and supporting our employees.”

TSA launched its TSA Gold program earlier this year, billing it as “the future of aviation security.” Essentially, the program gives airports the option to enter into a “public-private partnership” to handle security and screening duties rather than having those operations conducted solely by TSA.

TSA says the program allows private security firms to “tailor” security operations to each airport, while still complying with TSA’s “robust federal security standards.”

Critics, however, have raised concerns over what they feel could be a lapse in security standards.

At a hearing in May, Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) labor union, which represents TSA workers, argued that contracted........

© The Hill