World’s Busiest Airport Gets Clear Answer on Replacing TSA

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world, made headlines earlier this year when the Atlanta City Council voted to study replacing TSA officers with private security screeners. The idea gained steam after government shutdowns left TSA officers working without pay, leading to multi-hour waits at checkpoints.

Now, it looks like that plan won’t be moving forward after all.

A new city-commissioned study has recommended that the airport keep its federal TSA workforce in place. Airport officials said there’s no real benefit to making the switch, and plenty of risk.

Atlanta Considered Private Screeners

The Atlanta City Council voted 11-1 in May to request a feasibility study on private screening. The move came after TSA callouts during the shutdown caused major delays at the airport.

The study looked at whether Hartsfield-Jackson should join the TSA’s Screening Partnership Program, which allows airports to use private contractors at security checkpoints. Around 20 U.S. airports already use the program, though most are much smaller than Atlanta’s.

‘No Compelling Need’

The study, conducted by Ricondo & Associates for the city’s Department of Aviation, was presented to city council members on Monday. Its conclusion was clear.

“Based on our analysis, the (Department of Aviation) believes it is still best to continue operating security checkpoints and our baggage screening facilities using federal employees, and not to pursue the SPP,” said Tom Nissalke, the airport’s assistant general manager of planning and development, via 11Alive’s Jonathan Raymond and Grace King.

The study found that private screening wouldn’t save any money, since contractors in the program have to be paid comparably to TSA officers. It also wouldn’t solve the shutdown problem, because those contractors are still paid through the TSA.

Nissalke also warned that moving the airport’s roughly 1,300 TSA employees over to contractors would create operational risk. “You can’t transition them all from one day to the next,” he said. On top of that, the program has never been used at an airport anywhere near Atlanta’s size.

Nissalke said there was “no compelling need to adopt the SPP model to address fundamental screening issues.” Mayor Andre Dickens agreed with the recommendation, according to officials.

Council Member Responds

Atlanta City Councilman Byron Amos, who introduced the legislation calling for the study, backed the findings.

“When I introduced the legislation requesting the feasibility study, I did so with the intention of leaving the work in the hands of the experts, including the general manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and his team, who ensure we have the world’s busiest and most efficient airport,” Amos said.

He also turned his attention to Washington.

“Now we call on Congress to listen to the cries of the people that Washington, D.C. is hurting air transportation and do the work to ensure that our TSA workers are treated fairly,” Amos said.

Needless to say, travelers passing through Atlanta will keep seeing familiar TSA uniforms at the checkpoint for the foreseeable future.

This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Nov 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.