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TSA to phase out “Gold+” private airport screening program, shifting to existing SPP under Horizon 25
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Politics/The Apex Times/Aug 25, 5:06 PM EDT

TSA to phase out “Gold+” private airport screening program, shifting to existing SPP under Horizon 25

The Transportation Security Administration announced it will discontinue its newer Gold+ security model and instead focus on optimizing the agency’s existing Screening Partnership Program as part of its Horizon 25 Strategy marking the TSA’s 25th anniversary.

3 min readEditor-approved Apex article

The Transportation Security Administration announced Monday that it will phase out its “Gold+” privatized airport screening program and move to optimize its existing Screening Partnership Program (SPP) for future airport screening changes. TSA said the shift is part of its Horizon 25 Strategy, a modernization plan issued around the agency’s 25th anniversary, and it framed the decision as a way to streamline how private and public screening arrangements operate at participating airports.

Under the approach TSA is now moving away from, Gold+ was positioned as a newer screening option that relied on private-sector partners to handle certain screening functions, with the program described by TSA as distinct from the agency’s longer-running SPP framework. The new plan instead directs attention to SPP, which TSA described as an existing partnership model that it can refine rather than expanding a separate program structure at the same time.

TSA’s announcement did not describe Gold+ as being replaced by a single new program with the same name, but rather as being phased out while TSA works to optimize the SPP. The agency linked the policy change to its Horizon 25 Strategy and said the broader effort would focus on modernization, including changes intended to improve how screening operations are delivered at airports.

The practical impact is likely to be felt at airports that had opted into Gold+ as TSA pursued the program. For those locations, the move means planning and operational coordination with private providers associated with Gold+ could change as TSA transitions toward SPP-based operations. The TSA action also indicates that the agency intends to use its established partner-screening framework as the main vehicle for future operational adjustments, rather than maintaining two parallel models.

The decision comes as TSA continues to manage long-running pressures related to screening capacity and airport throughput, with federal screening rules placing responsibility for security outcomes on TSA while allowing certain partner-supported models. By shifting attention to SPP, TSA is effectively re-centering on a program structure the agency already uses in some locations, potentially reducing complexity for airports and vendors that would otherwise have to maintain Gold+ specific procedures and contracts alongside other TSA screening requirements.

Monday’s announcement also sets a timing marker for airports and contractors that had been preparing for Gold+ operations under TSA’s earlier plan for modernization. Although TSA did not provide extensive timeline detail in the report, the language of “phasing out” indicates a transition period rather than an immediate termination, leaving room for implementation steps at participating sites to align with updated TSA operational guidance.

TSA’s Horizon 25 Strategy, according to the report, is named to reflect the agency’s 25th anniversary and is presented as a modernization roadmap. With the reported shift from Gold+ to SPP optimization, TSA is drawing a line between the newer Gold+ concept and the older partnership model it is already using, and it is telling airports that future screening-partner modernization will be pursued through the SPP framework.

Why It Matters

  • The policy shift changes how airports and screening vendors may structure their role under TSA security requirements, centering future partner screening adjustments on SPP rather than Gold+.
  • A “phase out” approach suggests operational transition steps for participating airports, which could affect staffing plans and contract coordination during the rollout of updated TSA guidance.
  • By pointing to the SPP framework, TSA is likely aiming to reduce program complexity for airports that would otherwise need to manage distinct screening partnership models simultaneously.

Sources

Key Facts

  • TSA announced it will phase out the “Gold+” private airport screening program.
  • TSA said it will instead optimize its existing Screening Partnership Program (SPP).
  • The change was described as part of TSA’s “Horizon 25 Strategy,” tied to the TSA’s 25th anniversary.
  • TSA characterized the shift as a modernization and operational change for how airport screening partnerships will work.
  • The move implies a transition period for airports and partners involved with Gold+ operations.