Tampa International Airport (TPA) says it will continue using federal TSA officers to conduct security screenings, ditching previous plans to switch to a private security company.

Last month, TPA opted into the Transportation Security Administration’s new Gold+ program, which would have put a private contractor in charge of screening operations while TSA maintained federal oversight of security.

The move could have affected nearly 800 TSA employees and reshaped how travelers move through the airport.

But on Monday, TPA announced it would continue using its existing federal TSA officers after completing a full review of the TSA Gold+ program.

“The Airport conducted an extensive review and evaluation over several months, which resulted in its decision to keep screening operations exclusively with the TSA, and not adopt the Gold+ model,” TPA wrote in a release.

Airport officials explained that opting into the program allowed them to evaluate options to prevent disruptions from future government shutdowns, improve access to the latest screening technology, and enhance the passenger experience.

“We approached Gold+ carefully and deliberately, with a focus on our passengers, employees, airline partners, and long-term operational excellence,” TPA CEO Michael Stephens said in a statement. “We are thankful to the TSA for bringing us the opportunity to learn more about a program with the potential to enhance operational resiliency and innovation, and to reach an informed decision.”

TSA union reacts to TPA’s decision

In a statement, the American Federation of Government Employees, the union representing TSA officers, celebrated TPA’s decision to continue using federal security officers.

“On behalf of the TSA officers we represent and the flying public they protect every day, AFGE thanks the Tampa International Airport for listening to concerns raised by employees, members of the community, and elected leaders over this privatization program and making the wise decision to stay with TSA,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said.

“TSA Gold+ is a major departure our country’s current aviation screening security system, which has kept the flying public safe for nearly 25 years and should be applauded instead of abandoned. Tampa airport officials made the right call, and I hope other airports thinking of privatizing their security functions will follow suit and stay with TSA.”

TSA Gold+ switch drew union backlash

TPA’s initial decision to opt into TSA Gold+ drew strong opposition from the union representing TSA workers, which said employees could have lost federal benefits and faced lower pay.

“The morale is in the trashcan,” Chris Finlay, president of the local TSA union, said back in July.

Finlay said workers were essentially told their federal positions were being eliminated, although current TSA employees would have had the first opportunity to apply for jobs with the private contractor.

Government shutdowns have caused problems for the nation’s airports in recent years, including periods when TSA employees worked without pay. Finlay said the answer should be ensuring TSA workers are funded rather than replacing the federal workforce with private employees.

“Congress can’t agree on a budget,” Finlay said. “But the federal employees should not be used as hostages because Congress can’t agree on a budget.”

The privatized screening model is already used at airports including Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and Orlando Sanford International Airport, where TSA maintains oversight of security operations.