These 20 US airports don't use TSA screeners — and Trump wants more to go private

These 20 US airports don't use TSA screeners — and Trump wants more to go private A TSA checkpoint at San Francisco International Airport. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images Under President Donald Trump, the Transportation Security Administration is seeking to replace federal TSA screeners with private contractors in more airport security lines.Twenty US airports already use private screeners through the TSA's Screening Partnership Program, or SPP, which launched in 2004 and operates under TSA oversight. Eight are Montana airports, including several small regional ones served by Cape Air, though San Francisco — one of the US' busiest airports — is also on the list.The operational difference became especially apparent during the two government shutdowns in 2025 and 2026. TSA staffing shortages due to missed paychecks created airport chaos and hourslong wait times at airports like Houston Hobby and Atlanta; travelers in San Francisco waited just minutes.After scrapping its recently introduced TSA Gold+ program — which sought to expand private airport security screening under federal oversight but faced union opposition — the TSA announced a new strategy, Horizon 25, on Monday.Named in recognition of the TSA's 25th anniversary, the agency said the initiative aims to "accelerate public-private partnerships" through an evolved SPP, modernize TSA checkpoints, and enhance TSA PreCheck.The broader privatization push has faced criticism from opponents, who argue that the competitive nature of such partnership programs could compromise aviation safety and worsen working conditions. White House officials, meanwhile, have said it would save money.As the Trump administration pushes for more privatization of airport security, take a look at the airports across the US that haven't had TSA screeners for years. Atlantic City International Airport — Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey Atlantic City International Airport. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport — Santa Rosa, California Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Great Falls International Airport — Great Falls, Montana Great Falls International Airport. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Glacier Park International Airport — Kalispell, Montana Kalispell, Montana. Cavan Images / Michael Okimoto/Getty Images/Cavan Images RF Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport — Rochester, New York Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport Business Wire Havre City-County Airport — Havre, Montana Havre, Montana. Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post via Getty Images Kansas City International Airport — Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City International Airport. Image of Sport/Sipa USA L. M. Clayton Airport — Wolf Point, Montana Wolf Point, Montana. Posnov/Getty Images Orlando Sanford International Airport — Sanford, Florida Orlando Sanford International Airport. Joni Hanebutt/Getty Images Portsmouth International Airport — Portsmouth, New Hampshire Portsmouth International Airport. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Punta Gorda Airport — Punta Gorda, Florida An Allegiant plane at Punta Gorda Airport. csfotoimages/Getty Images Roswell Air Center — Roswell, New Mexico Roswell Air Center. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images San Francisco International Airport — San Francisco, California San Francisco International Airport. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images Sarasota Bradenton International Airport — Sarasota, Florida Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. Zack Wittman/Bloomberg via Getty Images Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport — Sidney, Montana Sidney, Montana. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Sioux Falls Regional Airport — Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls Regional Airport. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Tupelo Regional Airport — Tupelo, Mississippi The crowd looks on as Air Force One, with President Donald Trump onboard, lands ahead of a rally at the Tupelo Regional Airport. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Wokal Field/Glasgow Valley Airport — Glasgow, Montana Glasgow, Montana. Andrew Burton/Getty Images Yellowstone Airport — West Yellowstone, Montana Yellowstone Airport. Mario Tama/Getty Images Read next Airports