Ron DeSantis Questions TSA Effectiveness, Pushes Plan to Eliminate Agency

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is drawing sharp reactions after suggesting the U.S. should eliminate the TSA entirely as airport delays worsen.

The proposal, made on X, questions whether the agency has actually improved safety since its creation after 9/11—while critics warn the idea could introduce major security risks.

According to News4JAX, DeSantis argued airports and airlines could handle screening themselves instead of relying on federal oversight. The comments come as a government shutdown strains TSA staffing and leads to longer airport lines nationwide.

Supporters say privatizing security could improve efficiency, pointing to airports like San Francisco that use private contractors under federal programs. But aviation experts strongly disagree.

One expert cited the TSA’s standardized system as a direct response to past failures and warned that removing it could increase the risk of dangerous items getting through checkpoints.

The proposal remains informal, with no detailed plan released yet.

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