Study Backs Keeping TSA Screeners at Hartsfield-Jackson
A city-ordered Department of Aviation study recommends against shifting Atlanta's airport checkpoints to private screeners.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Air Travel
Live Poll
Do you trust federal TSA workers more than private screeners to keep flights running?
A Department of Aviation study ordered in May recommends keeping federal TSA workers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport rather than joining the agency's Screening Partnership Program. Atlanta City Council member Byron Amos said he was satisfied with the study's findings.
Why it matters
The study followed a 2026 partial federal government shutdown in which TSA employees worked without pay and callouts at Hartsfield-Jackson contributed to long lines and flight cancellations. Its findings shape how Atlanta approaches checkpoint staffing during future federal funding lapses.
The study compared Hartsfield-Jackson against the 20 of 516 U.S. commercial airports that use the private-screening program and against international screening models. It does not report specific cost figures in the available findings.
The players
Byron Amos
Atlanta City Council member who said he was satisfied with the study's findings.
Ricky Smith
Airport General Manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport who said city and airport leaders agreed with the recommendation.
The details
The study considered cost, effects on current TSA employees, operational risks, and resilience during a federal shutdown. It found Hartsfield-Jackson has no chronic issues with screening quality, equipment, outages, or scheduling, and that private screeners might go unpaid during an extended shutdown if their contractor could not finance payroll. Airport General Manager Ricky Smith said city and airport leaders agreed with the recommendation.
Timeline
May 2026: Study ordered weeks after TSA employees worked without pay during the partial shutdown.
November 9, 2026: Study findings presented to the Atlanta City Council on Monday.
Roadmap
Hartsfield-Jackson's study weighs joining the TSA Screening Partnership Program, which 20 of 516 U.S. commercial airports already use. The recommendation to stay with federal screeners leaves the country's largest private-screening adopter, San Francisco International Airport, as the model under comparison.
Travelers flying from Hartsfield-Jackson should expect federal TSA screeners to remain in place under the study's recommendation. The study's findings suggest checkpoint staffing could be affected by future federal shutdowns, so passengers may want to allow extra time during such periods.
The takeaway
The study's conclusion suggests that a city's airport security staffing is closely tied to federal funding decisions, and residents should watch how Atlanta responds to future shutdowns. Keeping screening under federal management is the study's recommended path for Hartsfield-Jackson.
Further reading
For more on airport operations, see Air Travel coverage in Atlanta.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Atlantanewsfirst.
Live Poll
Do you trust federal TSA workers more than private screeners to keep flights running?
