TSA proposes over 8,000 job cuts to Congress in new budget as White House pushes privatization
The Trump administration’s 2027 budget proposal would sharply cut Transportation Security administration staffing and push privatization of parts of airport security. The DHS document outlines a reduction of 8,385 positions and 9,439 full-time equivalents from the FY 2026 baseline, leaving TSA wiht 53,199 positions and 50,398 FTEs in 2027, from a current workforce of about 65,000. Despite the cuts, TSA would retain priority mission-critical roles to maintain operational effectiveness. the proposal also advances privatization through the Screening Partnership Program, in which private screeners would run security at smaller airports, with the administration seeking an additional $477.3 million for the program and projecting net savings of about $52 million. Specific reductions target full-time positions (-1,347), FTEs (-511), Transportation Security Officer roles (-2,462), and TSO FTEs (-4,351). The push comes amid concerns about recent government shutdowns and morale issues following pay disruptions, framing privatization as a reform to a troubled agency.
TSA proposes over 8,000 job cuts to Congress in new budget as White House pushes privatization
The Trump administration is proposing thousands of layoffs at the Transportation Security Administration as part of its 2027 budget proposal.
The Department of Homeland Security used the budget proposal to begin advocating the privatization of the TSA, which former President George W. Bush established as a national security measure after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. In a new document from DHS, the agency detailed its plans to reduce the workforce by over 8,000 positions.
“Through TSA’s strategic approaches to efficiency, the FY 2027 Budget’s total workforce represents a reduction of 8,385 positions and 9,439 [full-time equivalents] from the FY 2026 Annualized Continuing Resolution,” the TSA budget overview congressional justification document reads.
The proposed 2027 TSA budget allots for 53,199 positions and 50,398 full-time equivalents. The agency currently has about 65,000 employees.
“Despite these reductions, TSA will maintain all priority mission-critical positions to ensure operational effectiveness and mission continuity,” the document reads.
The agency has been under a microscope over the past year as two government shutdowns, one in October 2025 and the current DHS appropriations lapse, which began in February 2026, led to hourslong airport security lines as TSA officers had to work without pay. Before President Donald Trump signed an executive order to pay TSA officers during the shutdown, hundreds of workers resigned from the agency as paychecks stopped, and morale was low.
The newly detailed job cuts come as part of a Trump administration push to begin privatizing some screenings through the Screening Partnership Program, in which the TSA would contract with private screeners to run security in smaller U.S. airports. The agency asked Congress for an additional $477.3 million for the program, which is estimated to reduce costs by $529.3 million and save the agency a net $52 million.
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“The airports that already use this program have demonstrated savings compared to Federal screening operations,” the White House budget proposal reads. “The move would yield cost savings compared to Federal screening and begin reform of a troubled Federal agency.”
As the agency moves toward privatization, TSA specified where some of its job cuts would take effect. The agency detailed plans to reduce its full-time positions by 1,347, its FTEs by 511, its Transportation Security Officer positions by 2,462, and TSO FTEs by 4,351.
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