US airlines oppose Trump plan to require small airports to use private security

WASHINGTON - A group representing major U.S. airlines opposes a White House proposal to require smaller airports to use private security screeners instead of the Transportation Security Administration, according to written testimony seen by Reuters.

Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu will tell a U.S. House of Representatives committee on Wednesday that ensuring that private security "remains an option for airports and does not become a mandatory program is paramount to the U.S. aviation industry."

President Donald Trump last month proposed cutting more than 9,400 workers and just over $1.5 billion from the 60,000-employee TSA that handles airport security operations.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Tom Hogue)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 4:52 PM.