Senators Tuberville, Lee Introduce Abolish TSA Act
Would move to private airport security over three years
U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) have introduced the Abolish TSA Act, a bill aimed at dismantling the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The proposed legislation seeks to phase out the TSA over three years, transferring its responsibilities to private security entities while establishing a new Office of Aviation Security Oversight within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to monitor and provide oversight.
Sen. Tuberville criticized the TSA as a “bloated agency” that provides “minimal security benefits while causing unnecessary delays and frustration for travelers.” He argued that the agency has become an inefficient bureaucracy that infringes on Americans’ freedoms and wastes taxpayer dollars. “We need to focus on smarter, more effective methods to protect our country without sacrificing the liberties that make America great,” he stated.
Sen. Lee echoed these sentiments, highlighting the TSA’s history of security failures. “The TSA has not only intruded into the privacy and personal space of most Americans, it has also repeatedly failed tests to find weapons and explosives,” he said. Lee emphasized that the bill would **privatize airport security functions** while keeping oversight in federal hands, allowing travelers to move through airports without excessive government interference.
The TSA, created in the wake of the September 11 attacks, has long faced criticism for inefficiency and security failures. A 2015 internal investigation revealed that agents failed to detect 95% of mock explosives and banned weapons during screening tests. Similar results were reported in 2017, with failure rates as high as 80% in national tests.
The TSA has also been scrutinized for issues ranging from employee misconduct to allegations of theft. With 60,000 employees, the agency has grown into a massive bureaucracy that critics argue is resistant to modernization and lacks competitive incentives to improve performance.
The Abolish TSA Act proposes replacing federal screeners with private security firms under the oversight of the Office of Aviation Security Oversight. This model is already in use at some U.S. airports, including San Francisco International Airport, which participates in the TSA’s Screening Partnership Program (SPP). Supporters point to data showing that privatized security screening often leads to shorter wait times and improved efficiency compared to federalized operations.
The bill cites European commercial airports, where more than 80% have adopted privatized screening, as a successful example. Proponents argue that competition—not government bureaucracy—drives better security and efficiency.
If enacted, the bill would:
- Abolish the TSA within three years while transitioning to a privatized model.
- Establish the Office of Aviation Security Oversight within the FAA to supervise private security firms.
- Transfer airport security functions to qualified private companies.
- Shift non-aviation security functions (such as mass transit and freight rail security) to the Department of Transportation (DOT).
- Prevent warrantless searches and seizures by private security firms.
The bill mandates that within 90 days of passage, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, submit a reorganization plan to Congress. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would oversee compliance, with Congress maintaining legislative authority to amend or approve the transition process.
Supporters of the bill argue that this transition would enhance security, reduce government waste, and improve passenger experience, while critics may push back on concerns about accountability and oversight in a privatized system.
