The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA has reiterated its opposition to David Cummins’ leadership of the Transportation Security Administration and to any expansion of private airport screening. The union’s stance comes after the US Senate confirmed Cummins as TSA administrator on 7 August, as the Trump administration presses ahead with plans to widen contractor-run screening at airports, including through the Screening Partnership Program and TSA Gold+.
AFA-CWA, led by president Sara Nelson, links its criticism to Cummins’ confirmation-hearing remarks and his support for broader privatisation of screening functions. The union argues that moving security work to contractors could weaken public oversight and undermine the federal role created after the 11 September attacks.
The dispute is centred on airports already in line for possible changes, including Tampa, Charleston and Des Moines. Those plans could affect TSA staffing, labour relations and benefits for screened workers if operations shift from federal management to private contractors. The debate also goes to the future structure of US aviation security, with federal screening and private contracting now set against each other in a policy push that could extend beyond the first group of airports under review.