U.S. Airports Sue TSA Over Security Costs

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The U.S. airports are fighting against the federal rule changes that would require them to pay for staff at security checkpoint exit lanes starting next year.

Two trade associations have sued the Transportation Security Administration to halt the order, and a provision in the proposed federal budget could raise fees on airline tickets to help pay for the agency to continue monitoring exits.

Passing responsibility for exit lanes on to 155 airports could save the TSA about $80 million next year, but a lawyer representing airports said it could cost at least $130 million for airports to hire, train and pay new security personnel. TSA monitors exit lanes at about one-third of the country’s airports, according to spokesman Mark Howell.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

Last month, 155 airports received letters indicating that airport managers would have to take over the exits in 2014, said Scott Lewis, the lawyer representing the industry in its lawsuit. About 124 of those airports appealed to the agency, but their requests were denied.

TSA officers police the exit lanes to keep people who are in publicly accessible portions of the airport from entering the “sterile area” without going through security screening.