Paddle Your Own Kanoo
• Mateusz Maszczynski
New TSA Administrator David Cummins has ended the agency’s controversial Gold+ program, but the broader push to expand private security screening at U.S. airports remains in place. The decision separates the fate of Gold+ from the administration’s wider approach to airport security privatization.
TSA
Latest source-backed stories
New TSA Administrator David Cummins has ended the agency’s controversial Gold+ program, but the broader push to expand private security screening at U.S. airports remains in place. The decision separates the fate of Gold+ from the administration’s wider approach to airport security privatization.
David Cummins has been appointed administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, while Tom Chapman was confirmed to serve another term on the National Transportation Safety Board. The appointments set leadership at two U.S. agencies responsible for transportation security, accident investigation and aviation safety oversight.
David Cummins has been sworn in as the eighth administrator of the Transportation Security Administration after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate. His appointment establishes new leadership for the agency responsible for transportation security, including the security functions supporting the nation’s aviation system.
The largest U.S. flight attendant union says it remains “adamantly opposed” to David Cummins’ appointment as Transportation Security Administration administrator. Cummins, a former vice president at British public-sector outsourcing company Serco, has drawn opposition as debate continues over privatizing TSA functions.
The U.S. Senate confirmed David Cummins, a senior vice president at Serco, to head the Transportation Security Administration. His appointment comes as the Trump administration pushes to expand the use of private security screeners at smaller airports, potentially reshaping TSA’s operating model.
High activity
President Donald Trump unveiled a Washington Dulles International Airport modernization plan totaling about $20B to $22.5B, framed as a “long-overdue” renovation. The program would retire the long-criticized “people mover” mobile lounges used between the main terminal and replace the system with a horseshoe train.
The U.S. Transportation Department and FAA have proposed sweeping changes to streamline licensing for commercial rocket launches and spaceport operations. The proposal would grant environmental review waivers, bypassing long-standing requirements tied to 13 laws, aiming to speed approvals for missions such as SpaceX and other commercial operators.
Eve Air Mobility has entered a partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation to support development of advanced air mobility (AAM) infrastructure and operational integration in the state. The effort is tied to SunTrax, aimed at accelerating eVTOL deployment groundwork at a state level.
Create a free account to see more recent TSA stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
