Editing Transportation Security Administration (section)

=== Airport screening ===
Private screening did not disappear entirely under the TSA, which allows airports to opt-out of the federal screening and hire firms to do the job instead. Such firms must still get TSA approval under its [[Screening Partnership Program]] (SPP) and follow TSA procedures.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1228247,00.html |title=An Airport Screener's Complaint |author=Greg Fulton |date=August 17, 2006 |access-date=November 19, 2010 |website=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226000315/https://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1228247,00.html |archive-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> Among the handful of U.S. airports with privately operated checkpoints are [[San Francisco International Airport]], [[Kansas City International Airport]], [[Greater Rochester International Airport]], [[Tupelo Regional Airport]], [[Key West International Airport]], and [[Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dot.gov/affairs/tsa2902.htm |title=TSA Announces Private Security Screening Pilot Program |author=TSA press release |date=June 18, 2002 |publisher=[[United States Department of Transportation]] |access-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050904192312/http://www.dot.gov/affairs/tsa2902.htm |archive-date=September 4, 2005 |url-status=dead |quote=The Aviation and Transportation Security Act, Section 108, requires TSA to establish the pilot program.  The Act requires that the private screening company be owned and controlled by a citizen of the United States.  The Act also sets forth the provision that TSA may terminate any contract entered into with a private screening company that has repeatedly failed to comply with any standard, regulation, directive, order, law, or contract applicable to hiring or training personnel or to the provision of screening at the airport.  Also, contractors are required to meet the same employment standards and requirements as federal security screeners.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2007/press_release_01042007.shtm |title=TSA Awards Private Screening Contract to US Helicopter and McNeil Security Under Screening Partnership Program |author=TSA press release |date=January 4, 2007 |website=www.tsa.gov |publisher=Transportation Security Administration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916061700/http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2007/press_release_01042007.shtm |archive-date=September 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |quote=Under today's unique three-party contract, US Helicopter agreed to provide for and fund all screening personnel at the East 34th Street facility through a contract negotiated with McNeil Security.  TSA will provide security oversight and certified screening equipment to ensure that passengers, their accessible property, and checked baggage are thoroughly screened for explosives and other dangerous items before departure.  TSA has enacted a Heliport Security Plan, which will ensure that the East 34th Street Heliport, like the Wall Street facility, adheres to all TSA regulatory requirements and applicable security directives.}}</ref>
However, the bulk of airport screening in the U.S. is done by the TSA's 46,661 (as of FY 2018) Transportation Security Officers (TSOs).
<ref name=Gayden-Commercial-Aviation-101>{{cite book |last=Gayden |first=Greg |date=2017 |title=Commercial Aviation 101 |url=http://www.dfwtower.com/101/CommercialAviation101.pdf |location=Dallas |publisher=443 Critical |page=16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108092337/http://www.dfwtower.com/101/CommercialAviation101.pdf |archive-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref> They examine passengers and their baggage, and perform other security duties within airports, including controlling entry and exit points, and monitoring the areas near their checkpoints.