July 22, 2026 – According to a statement sent to the Catalyst, Tampa International Airport (TPA) will join the Transportation Security Administration’s Gold+ Program, which is the agency’s public-private partnership screening initiative. While TSA will still have regulatory oversight of TPA’s security, a private workforce will perform the screenings. This decision “reflects the Airport’s strong commitment to modernization, innovation and operational resilience in aviation security.” TPA representatives wrote that the change can “reduce disruption risks caused by lapses in federal appropriations or government shutdowns.”
