Why collaboration is necessary if federal partners continue to impose security funding on airports

Airports are critical economic engines and employment generators for their communities. Above all they place emphasis on the safety and security of their facilities, operations and customers. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is an organisation responsible for ensuring the security of transport systems in the US and, like other regulatory bodies, often proposes new rules or amendments to meet changing security standards, following a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which permits stakeholders to provide valuable feedback to influence the future of airport operations. In April 2023, the TSA issued its Airport Security Program National Amendment (TSA-NA-23-02), which requires airports to implement a costly and impractical employee screening policy without any financial or operational support. As of late September 2024, airports were required to conduct random physical screening of aviation workers entering certain access points in terminal buildings and will eventually be required to procure and use explosive detection screening equipment to conduct the screening. The lack of collaboration, coordination and input from the aviation industry on this proposed unfunded mandate produces significant impacts to airport operators. This paper describes the importance of collaboration, as industry organisations, including the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), are calling on federal agencies to broaden public participation in the regulatory process. In order to ensure a continued safe and secure aviation system, it is critical that the TSA and federal partners work more collaboratively with airports.