Jazmin Li
Airport security in the United States is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a federal agency within the Department of Homeland Security. The TSA is responsible for securing the nation's transportation systems, including airports, and facilitates security screening for passengers and baggage. The agency employs Transportation Security Officers, also known as TSA officers, who are responsible for carrying out security measures at airports and are often the most visible representatives of the agency to the public. The TSA works to prevent prohibited items and threats from entering sterile areas of airports and implements various security measures, including full-body scanners and pat-downs, to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) |
| Role | To achieve the highest levels of transportation security |
| Process | TSA's screening procedures are intended to prevent prohibited items and other threats to transportation security from entering the sterile area of the airport |
| Privacy | TSA's Secure Flight program collects the minimum amount of personal information, such as full name, date of birth, and sex, necessary to conduct effective matching |
| ID Requirements | TSA requires a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or other acceptable forms of ID, such as a passport or U.S. military ID, for domestic air travel within the U.S. |
| Reporting Suspicious Activities | The public is encouraged to report unattended bags or packages, individuals with threatening items, and persons attempting to access restricted areas |
| Collective Bargaining Rights | TSA has granted limited collective bargaining rights to Transportation Security Officers, with agreements in place with federal employee unions |
| PreCheck Program | TSA PreCheck® is an expedited security program allowing eligible travelers to speed up their screening process at participating U.S. airports and for most international trips |
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What You'll Learn
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, is responsible for security screening in American airports. The TSA works to achieve the highest levels of transportation security by adjusting its processes and procedures to meet evolving threats. The TSA's screening procedures aim to prevent prohibited items and other security threats from entering sterile areas of airports.
TSA officers are responsible for inspecting baggage and monitoring checked baggage facilities, using methods such as CCTV. The TSA has come under scrutiny for its use of full-body scanners, which some critics argue violate privacy and pose potential health risks.
The TSA has implemented various programs to enhance security and streamline the screening process. The Secure Flight program identifies high and low-risk passengers before they arrive at the airport by cross-referencing passenger information with trusted traveler lists and watchlists. The TSA PreCheck® program offers expedited security screening for eligible travellers, allowing them to speed up their screening process and avoid removing certain items during inspections.
The TSA also plays a role in setting identification requirements for air travel within the United States. As of May 7, 2025, the TSA requires a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or other acceptable forms of identification, such as a passport or U.S. military ID.
The TSA is committed to ensuring the safety and security of passengers and continually adapts its procedures to address emerging challenges.
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Screening procedures
Airport security screening in the United States is controlled by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA implements a layered approach to security, adjusting its processes and procedures to meet evolving threats and achieve the highest levels of transportation security. The TSA relies on the public to report suspicious activities, such as unattended bags, individuals with threatening items, or attempts to access restricted areas.
TSA's screening procedures aim to prevent prohibited items and other threats from entering sterile areas of the airport. These procedures may change over time to address new challenges. Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead, pack appropriately, and arrive early at the airport to facilitate the screening process.
The TSA utilizes various technologies and methods for security screening, including Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), metal detectors, millimeter wave scanners, X-ray machines, and explosives trace-detection portal machines ("puffer machines"). They also employ the Secure Flight risk-based passenger pre-screening program, which identifies low and high-risk passengers before their arrival at the airport by matching their names against trusted traveler lists and watchlists.
Additionally, the TSA has introduced the PreCheck Program, offering expedited screening for select members of specific airlines' frequent flyer programs, Global Entry, Free and Secure Trade (FAST), NEXUS, SENTRI, the US military, and cadets and midshipmen of US service academies.
The screening process may involve inspecting service animals and their equipment, as well as accommodating passengers with special needs or disabilities. Passengers with medical equipment, such as insulin pumps, meters, test kits, or syringes, should carry proper documentation and may request alternative screening methods if needed.
TSA has also addressed privacy concerns related to full-body scanners, emphasizing the implementation of strict measures to protect passenger privacy. However, there have been controversies and incidents involving leaked images and the effectiveness of screening procedures, with some undercover agents managing to bring weapons through security at major airports.
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Secure Flight
Airport security in the United States is provided by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The TSA's Secure Flight program is a risk-based passenger pre-screening program that enhances security by identifying low- and high-risk passengers before they arrive at the airport. It does so by matching passenger names against trusted traveler lists and watchlists, such as the No Fly and Selectee portions of the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB). The program collects the minimum amount of personal information, such as full name, date of birth, and sex, necessary to conduct effective matching.
The purpose of the Secure Flight program is to screen individuals before they access airport sterile areas or board aircraft. It helps prevent known or suspected terrorists or other individuals who may pose a threat to transportation or national security from gaining access to airports and airplanes. Secure Flight also ensures that identified individuals receive enhanced physical screening prior to accessing airport sterile areas or boarding an aircraft.
In addition to Secure Flight, the TSA employs various other security measures, including screening checked baggage for explosives and other dangerous items, inspecting carry-on bags and personal electronic devices, and implementing enhanced screening procedures for all passengers and flight crews.
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TSA PreCheck
In the United States, airport security is called the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). TSA PreCheck® is an expedited security screening program that allows pre-approved members to move through security without removing shoes, belts, and light jackets. Liquids and electronics also remain in bags.
To enroll in TSA PreCheck, applicants can choose from a list of TSA-approved partners based on cost, locations, and additional benefits. The enrollment process can be started online and completed in person at an enrollment center. The cost varies by provider.
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Full-body scanners
In the United States, full-body scanners have been installed at train stations, subways, penitentiaries, and airports. Full-body scanners are devices that detect objects on or inside a person's body for security screening purposes, without physically removing clothes or making physical contact. Unlike metal detectors, full-body scanners can detect non-metal objects, which became a concern after various airliner bombing attempts in the 2000s.
There are two types of full-body scanners in use. Each generates a detailed outline of the human body for the purpose of identifying contraband hidden under clothing. The millimeter-wave scanners emit extremely low-energy waves, and the scanners capture the reflected energy. The backscatter X-ray scanner, the more common type in the U.S., utilizes very low-dose X-rays, similar to those used in medical imaging. The health risks posed by these machines are still being studied, and the evidence is mixed. Some groups have called for research on the association between airport scan exposures and risks, though it is difficult to estimate the risks of such low exposures. According to experts, passengers should not fear going through the scans for health reasons, as the risks are trivial.
If a passenger does not want to go through a full-body scanner at the airport, they can undergo a pat-down screening instead. A TSA officer of the same gender as the passenger will conduct the pat-down, wearing clean gloves and explaining the procedure.
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Frequently asked questions
American airport security is provided by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The TSA is responsible for security screening at airports, train stations, bus stops and ports. The TSA works to prevent prohibited items and threats to transportation security from entering sterile areas of the airport.
The TSA PreCheck® program is an expedited security program that allows eligible travellers to speed up their screening process at participating US airports and for most international trips. To be eligible, travellers must apply and gain approval from the TSA.
Secure Flight is a risk-based passenger pre-screening program that identifies low and high-risk passengers before they arrive at the airport. The program matches passenger names against trusted traveller lists and watchlists.
