Atlanta City Council greenlights study on TSA privatization at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport

Atlanta Airport

May 19th, 2026

A TSA agent with a badge on his blue uniform checks a passengers ticket — A TSA agent checks a passenger's ticket and boarding pass at Ohare Airport in Chicago, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

The Atlanta City Council greenlit a study looking into the privatization of services done by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on May 18.

Councilman Byron Amos was the lead sponsor of the resolution to assess the practicality of private screenings at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport through a feasibility study.

The move passed 11 to 1. Amos said his reason for the study is due to instances like the recent months-long DHS shutdown, which caused a wave of employee callouts and long wait times.

“This feasibility study is only asking about what it would look like if we can better serve grandmothers standing in line all day long because our federal government can’t get its act together to keep our TSA workers employed. Our customers are the people who frequent our airports. They are the ones we should be worrying about,” Amos said.

City documents state that the Department of Aviation Commission and Airport officials will be in charge of conducting the study.

About 20 airports have adopted privatized TSA over the years, like San Francisco International Airport, through the Screening Partnership Program (SPP).

“The privatization of TSA is a part of Trump’s Project 2025,” said Councilmember Kelsea Bond, who was the only member against the measure.

Project 2025 refers to an over 900-page conservative policy roadmap by The Heritage Foundation. A section of the document calls for the SPP to be expanded to all airports in the U.S.

“I think it is our responsibility as the City of Atlanta [is] to stand back and defend the public sector and the union employees who are employed at the Atlanta Airport,” they added.

According to the resolution, the scope of the study will feature comparisons between federal and private screening costs, TSA employee job security and more.

The study is expected to be completed within 90 days after adoption, as the city heads into World Cup season in June.