The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confirmed on Monday that it is ending its Gold+ private airport security initiative. This decision is part of the agency's broader 'Horizon 25 Strategy,' a roadmap released to coincide with the agency’s upcoming 25th anniversary.

Rather than continuing with the Gold+ model, the TSA stated it will shift its focus toward optimizing the Screening Partnership Program (SPP). The SPP allows airports to use private security firms for passenger screening, provided those firms meet federal security standards and oversight requirements. The agency indicated that the move is intended to streamline operations and modernize security protocols across the national transportation network.

While the TSA framed the transition as a strategic optimization, the announcement marks a notable shift in how the agency manages private-sector partnerships. The agency has not yet provided a specific timeline for the full phase-out of the Gold+ program, nor did it detail the specific operational shortcomings that led to the decision to prioritize the SPP over the newer initiative. The agency’s stated goal remains the enhancement of security efficiency and the integration of new technologies as it approaches its quarter-century milestone.