TSA Launches Horizon 25 Strategy to Modernise Security Checkpoints Ahead of Agency's 25th Anniversary
Why It MattersThe plan signals a broader shift toward private-sector involvement in aviation security screening, with an updated Screening Partnership Program set to replace the existing Gold+ programme.
The US Transportation Security Administration has launched its Horizon 25 Strategy, a framework aimed at modernising security checkpoints as the agency approaches its 25th anniversary. TSA Administrator David P. Cummins announced the strategy on 24 August 2026, identifying three core priorities: modernising TSA checkpoints, improving the passenger experience, and strengthening security across multiple modes of transport.
Under Horizon 25, the TSA plans to advance enhancements to TSA PreCheck, improve the overall passenger journey, and revise the process for acquiring new security technology, including expanding capabilities to address threats involving unmanned aircraft systems. The agency also plans to increase its use of public-private partnerships, with an updated Screening Partnership Program replacing the existing TSA Gold+ programme to make greater use of private-sector capabilities in aviation security.
Cummins said President Trump and Secretary Mullin entrusted him with modernising TSA, and that the agency must stay ahead of evolving threats to deliver a "Golden Age of Travel." To advance the initiatives, Cummins plans to bring together staff from TSA headquarters and field operations in September 2026.
