Hearing Report: DFW CEO Testifies at House Homeland Security Committee Hearing on TSA Modernization

May 20, 2026

This morning, the House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing to hear from industry stakeholders about opportunities to reform and improve aviation security through modernization of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and to discuss the long-term impacts of the recent shutdowns on TSA’s workforce and operations. The hearing was designed to help guide the Committee’s legislative efforts to modernize TSA, better respond to emerging risks, and improve the travel experience. The Committee hopes to release and consider its legislative proposal for TSA modernization, also referred to as reauthorization, later this summer.

Witnesses today included:

Chris McLaughlin, CEO, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Christopher T. Sununu, President and CEO, Airlines for America (A4A)
Everett Kelley, National President, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)

Common Themes Throughout the Hearing:

DHS Shutdowns: Throughout the hearing, Committee members repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of repeated government shutdowns this fiscal year on the TSA workforce. Both Republicans and Democrats expressed concerns about the impacts on morale and employee retention, with Democrats and AFGE repeatedly stressing that TSA needs experienced, well-trained, and focused Transportation Security Officers to ensure the safety of the traveling public. Both McLaughlin and Sununu echoed similar sentiments, highlighting what airports and airlines did during the shutdowns to help federal employees working without a paycheck, and stressing that Congress should ensure that federal workers get paid during any future shutdowns.
TSA Privatization Proposals: Committee Democrats consistently raised alarm about TSA’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal to mandate more than 250 smaller airports use private screeners. Some also raised concerns about TSA’s new Gold Plus proposal, unveiled last Friday, that combines the current screening partnership program for contract screening with new aviation security technology and related maintenance costs to accelerate the delivery of innovative, cutting-edge solutions tailored to airports’ specific needs at those locations that choose to opt-in. Some Democrat Representatives stated that these proposals favor profits over security and government employees. All three witnesses were repeatedly questioned about these proposals. Both McLaughlin and Sununu stressed that airports should have a choice between federalized or contractor screeners, based on what works best for their facility. However, Sununu also stated that by not funding and paying TSA employees, more airports are looking at the privatization model because those contract workers did get paid during the recent government shutdowns (largely due to the timing of their contracts as highlighted by AFGE in its testimony).
SAFEGUARDS Act and Ending Fee Diversion: Several Committee members, including original co-sponsors such as Chair Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), raised the Spending Aviation Fees for Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety Act, or SAFEGUARDS Act. This bipartisan bill would mandate that revenue collected from the passenger security fee be dedicated towards bolstering aviation and airport security and increases funding set aside for checkpoint and checked baggage security technologies. McLaughlin stressed in his opening statement and again in response to questions that currently it takes TSA too long to acquire and deploy new technologies and that the agency needs sustainable access to capital like that provided in the SAFEGUARDS Act. Because of the current diversion of more than $1.6 billion in security fees per year to pay for deficit reduction, DFW has had to procure technologies for their checkpoints instead of waiting for TSA to do so. McLaughlin noted that “those costs will be ultimately passed on to the airlines and the consumers”, which is disheartening because passengers are paying for security twice. Sununu also wholeheartedly supported the SAFEGARDS Act to ensure that aviation security fees are dedicated to security.
One Stop Security: Both McLaughlin and Sununu urged the Committee to permanently reauthorize the One Stop Security program (OSS), currently a pilot program that expires in 2028. OSS enables connecting passengers and their checked baggage to avoid redundant TSA screening in the United States if they are screened to comparable standards at international Last Point of Departure airports. McLaughlin highlighted the benefits OSS passengers are experiencing, including time savings at DFW. He urged the Committee to “to fully authorize both passenger One Stop Security and International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS) programs. It’s critical that these programs include both passenger and baggage screening components to fully realize the operational, security and passenger experience benefits associated with a more seamless international transfer.”
Reimbursable Security Screening Program (RSSP): Again, both McLaughlin and Sununu urged the Committee to provide permanent authority for RSSP, which supports innovative passenger processing outside traditional terminal checkpoints. DFW will soon launch RSSP at their corporate aviation facilities, ahead of FIFA World Cup games, to provide streamlined, enhanced screening for private passengers and crew. McLaughlin noted that the RSSP programs give TSA funding flexibility to meet needs it may otherwise be unable to support, improving customer service and operational flexibility while maintaining federal security oversight.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Committee reiterated that it wanted to work with airports and airlines to hear our thoughts about what should be considered as part of their TSA modernization legislative efforts.

Additional Details: