Originally Posted by
studentff
In the event of a serious disruption to air travel resulting from a months-long shutdown, I wonder if the airlines/airports could in a matter of days or weeks cobble together a private replacement for TSA. Instead of handing over the ticket surcharge for TSA to the (shut down) feds, start hiring contractors. Strip the process down to basic screening for real WEI. The truth is a better-than-pre-9/11 system could be created using the existing TSA equipment and much lower staffing levels than TSA (get rid of the needless gropes, BDOs, overzealous ID checkers, war on water, general standing around, etc.). And it might finally force the conversation regarding 9/11 not being caused by failure of airline security.
Yes I know extremely it's unlikely. But my position for years has been that the TSA needs to be disbanded with aviation-passenger security re-booted from scratch. A prolonged shutdown is a potential trigger for that.
I agree with you completely about the need for a procedural reboot.
TSA's problem has never had anything to do with WHO does the screening. It's always been about HOW the screening is accomplished. Those who have been calling for privatization for years have consistently missed the fact that SFO, the largest US airport with private screeners, has the second worst reputation in the nation behind PHX. And the reason is simple - they're not TSA, but they follow all of TSA's rules. It's the rules that need to change, not who enforces them.