White House Wants to Reduce TSA Staffing Levels

Trump administration says the agency ‘consistently failed audits.’

TSA PreCheck lanes (Photo: Joni Hanebutt/Shutterstock)

[ Airports ]May 6, 2025 6:30 am ET

By Ryan Ewing

After ending collective bargaining for roughly 50,000 transportation security officers (TSOs) in March, the Trump administration is now looking to make more cuts at the agency.

Its 2026 discretionary budget request – dubbed the “skinny” budget – “reduces Transportation Security Officer levels,” the administration states. If enacted by Congress, this change would create around $247 million in savings.

“Despite constant budget increases since their inception, TSA has consistently failed audits while implementing intrusive screening measures that violate Americans’ privacy and dignity,” the budget proposal states. “During the previous administration, the agency was also abused to facilitate mass illegal migration by allowing illegal migrants to fly into the interior without proper documentation.”

‘Hypocrisy’

A spokesperson from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) – which represents TSA officers – called this move hypocritical and deceitful.

“ One word might be hypocrisy, but deceit is a better word behind the administration’s argument that national security required the administration to take away collective bargaining rights from transportation security officers,” the spokesperson told AirlineGeeks on Monday.

The AFGE is currently suing the Trump administration over the end to collective bargaining rights for TSOs.

This budget proposal, the spokesperson continued, is “a prelude to privatization as laid out in Project 2025.” A broader effort to privatize parts of the TSA has already been floated in the Senate.

”They’ll just be going back to pre-9/11 private contractors,” the spokesperson added.

The TSA directed questions to the White House.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Follow Ryan

Author

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
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