The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that has authority over the security of transportation systems within and connecting to the United States. It was created as a response to the September 11 attacks to improve airport security procedures and consolidate air travel security under a combined federal law enforcement and regulatory agency.
The TSA develops key policies to protect the U.S. transportation system, including highways, railroads, bus networks, mass transit systems, ports, pipelines, and intermodal freight facilities. It fulfills this mission in conjunction with other federal, state, local and foreign government partners. However, the TSA's primary mission is airport security and the prevention of aircraft hijacking. It is responsible for screening passengers and baggage at more than 450 U.S. airports, employing screening officers, explosives detection dog handlers, and bomb technicians in airports, and armed Federal Air Marshals and Federal Flight Deck Officers on aircraft.
At first a part of the Department of Transportation, the TSA became part of DHS in March 2003 and is headquartered in Springfield, Virginia. As of the fiscal year 2023, the TSA operated on a budget of approximately $9.70 billion and employed over 47,000 Transportation Security Officers, Transportation Security Specialists, Federal Air Marshals, and other security personnel.
The TSA has screening processes and regulations related to passengers and checked and carry-on luggage, including identification verification, pat-downs, full-body scanners, and explosives screening. Since its inception, the agency has been subject to criticism and controversy regarding the effectiveness of various procedures, as well as incidents of baggage theft, data security, and allegations of prejudicial treatment towards certain ethnic groups.
History and mission
The TSA was created largely in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which revealed weaknesses in existing airport security procedures. At the time, a myriad of private security companies managed air travel security under contract to individual airlines or groups of airlines that used a given airport or terminal facility. Proponents of placing the government in charge of airport security, including Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, argued that only a single federal agency could best protect passenger aviation.
Congress agreed, and authorized the creation of the TSA in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on November 19, 2001. Bush nominated John Magaw as undersecretary of transportation for security on December 10, and he was confirmed by the Senate the following January. The agency was initially placed under the United States Department of Transportation but was moved to the Department of Homeland Security when that department was formed on March 9, 2003.
The new agency's effort to hire screeners to begin operating security checkpoints at airports represents a case of a large-scale staffing project completed over a short period. The only effort in U.S. history that came close to it was the testing of recruits for the armed forces in World War II. During the period from February to December 2002, 1.7 million applicants were assessed for 55,000 screening jobs.
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. 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. 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). 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.
In August 2017, the General Services Administration announced a new headquarters for the TSA would be built in Springfield, Virginia. The new, 625,000-square-foot headquarters was built near the outskirts of Fort Belvoir and the Franconia-Springfield Metro station, and cost $316 million.
Administration and organization
Leadership When the TSA was part of the Department of Transportation, the head of the agency was referred to as the undersecretary of transportation for security. Following the move to the Department of Homeland Security in March 2003, the position was reclassified as the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.
There have been eight administrators and nine acting administrators in the TSA's 24-year history. Several have come to the job after previously serving as Coast Guard flag officers, including Loy, Neffenger, and Pekoske.
Following the passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which included a provision known as the TSA Modernization Act, the administrator's term was set as a five-year term retroactive to the start of current administrator David Pekoske's term. It also made the deputy administrator a politically appointed position. #PictureNamePeriodNotes 1 John Magaw January 28, 2002 – July 18, 2002 Under Secretary of Transportation for Security 2 James Loy July 19, 2002 – December 7, 2003 Under Secretary of Transportation for Security until Department of Homeland Security transition. 3 David M. Stone December 8, 2003 – June 3, 2005 Acting until July 2004 when confirmed by United States Senate. — Kenneth Kasprisin June 4, 2005 – July 26, 2005 Acting 4 Kip Hawley July 27, 2005 – January 20, 2009 — Gale Rossides January 20, 2009 – June 24, 2010 Acting 5 John S. Pistole June 25, 2010 – December 31, 2014 — Melvin J. Carraway January 1, 2015 – June 1, 2015 Acting, reassigned to DHS Office of State and Local Law Enforcement following leak of DHS Inspector General red team test results showing screening failures at TSA checkpoints. — Mark Hatfield Jr. June 1, 2015 – June 4, 2015 Acting — Francis X. Taylor June 4, 2015 – July 3, 2015 Acting, served concurrently as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis. 6 Peter V. Neffenger July 4, 2015 – January 20, 2017 — Huban A. Gowadia January 20, 2017 – August 10, 2017 Acting 7 David Pekoske August 10, 2017 – January 20, 2025 Served concurrently as acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from April 11 to November 13, 2019, with day-to-day operations delegated to Acting Deputy Administrator Patricia Cogswell. Served concurrently as acting Secretary of Homeland Security from January 20, 2021, until Alejandro Mayorkas was confirmed by the Senate. While serving as acting secretary, TSA was overseen by Executive Assistant Administrator for Security Operations Darby LaJoye. Fired by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. — Melanie Harvey January 20, 2025 – February 18, 2025 Acting — Adam Stahl February 18, 2025 – April 21, 2025 Acting — Ha Nguyen McNeill April 21, 2025 – August 10, 2026 Acting 8 David P. Cummins August 10, 2026 – present
Organizational structure At the helm of the TSA is the administrator, who leads the organization's efforts in safeguarding the nation's airports, railways, seaports, and other critical transportation infrastructure. Assisting the administrator is a deputy administrator, whose role is to provide support and guidance in executing the agency's mission. In addition, the TSA benefits from the expertise and leadership of several deputy assistant administrators and other executive officers, who contribute their knowledge and skills to various aspects of the agency's operations. Together, this structured leadership team forms the backbone of the TSA, working collectively to uphold and enhance the security of the nation's transportation networks. The executive assistant administrator for law enforcement is also the executive director of the Federal Air Marshal Service.
Rank structure Headquarters Administrator of the TSA Deputy Administrator Chief of Staff Assistant Administrator, Legislative Affairs Assistant Administrator, Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Executive Assistant Administrator, Law Enforcement Assistant Administrator, Federal Air Marshal Service Assistant Administrator, Investigations Assistant Administrator, Security and Operations Management Executive Assistant Administrator, Mission Support Assistant Administrator, Contracting and Procurement Assistant Administrator, Human Capital Assistant Administrator, Facilities and Administration Assistant Administrator, Inspections Assistant Administrator, Training and Development Executive Assistant Administrator, Security Operations Assistant Administrator, Compliance Assistant Administrator, Domestic Aviation Operations Assistant Administrator, International Operations Assistant Administrator, Operations Management Assistant Administrator, Surface Operations Executive Assistant Administrator, Technology and Systems Assistant Administrator, Information Technology Assistant Administrator, Security Capabilities Assistant Administrator, Trusted Traveler and Credentialing Assistant Administrator, Vetting Operations Chief Counsel Assistant Administrator/Chief Financial Officer, Chief Finance Office Assistant Administrator, Civil Rights and Liberties, Ombudsman and Traveler Engagement Assistant Administrator, Intelligence Assistant Administrator, Strategy, Policy & Engagement Executive Director, TSA Modernization
Regional administration Regional Surface Director (RSD) Spoke–hub or Category X airport-level administration Federal Security Director (FSD) Deputy Federal Security Director (DFSD) Assistant Federal Security Director for Mission Support (AFSD-MS) Assistant Federal Security Director for Screening (AFSD-S) Assistant Federal Security Director for Inspection (AFSD-I) Assistant Federal Security Director for Law Enforcement (AFSD-LE) Assistant Federal Security Director Generalist (AFSD-G)
Airport-level Transportation Security Manager (TSM) Supervisory Transportation Security Officer (STSO) Lead Transportation Security Officer (LTSO) Transportation Security Officer (TSO)
Airport-level rank insignias +Frontline OfficersSupervisory Transportation Security Officer (STSO)Lead Transportation Security Officer (LTSO)Transportation Security Officer (TSO) - F BandTransportation Security Officer (TSO)Passenger Support Specialists (PSS)Supervisory Transportation Security Officer (STSO)Lead Transportation Security Officer (LTSO)Transportation Security Officer (TSO) - F BandTransportation Security Officer (TSO)
Insignia
On September 11, 2018, the TSA adopted a new flag representing its core values and founding principles. The design features a white, graphically stylized American eagle sitting centrally located inside rings of red and white against a field of blue, with its dynamically feathered wings outstretched in a pose signifying protection, vigilance, and commitment. The eagle's wings, which break through the red and white containment rings, indicate freedom of movement. There are nine stars and 11 rays emanating out from the top of the eagle to reference September 11. There is also a representation of land (roads) and sea which is representative of the modes of transportation.
Operations
The center for operations is located at the Freedom Center in Herndon, Virginia, and was built in 2003.
Finances For fiscal year 2020, the TSA had a budget of roughly $7.68 billion.