Homeland Security ends collective bargaining agreement with TSA officers

The Department of Homeland Security is terminating the collective bargaining agreement with Transportation Security Administration officers.

Friday’s move, which has sparked controversy, was described by department officials as a necessary step to improve efficiency and address concerns about union representation.

In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), DHS officials said, “Thanks to Secretary [Kristi] Noem’s action, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) will no longer lose their hard-earned dollars to a union that does not represent them.”

In response, Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, criticized the decision. In a statement, Kelley accused Noem and the Trump administration of “violating the rights of patriotic Americans to join a union.”

He also disputed the department’s justification, calling claims about union officials “fabricated” and asserting the time spent on union activities by TSA officers amounts to just 0.5% of all collective bargaining work across the federal government.

“This action is nothing more than an attack on the rights of working Americans because they happen to belong to a union,” Kelley said. “We will continue to fight for Americans’ fundamental right to join a union.”

Union involvement at TSA has become a growing concern, according to DHS. The department claims that at 86% of airports, more TSA agents are dedicated to full-time union duties than to actual screening responsibilities. Of the 432 federally managed airports, DHS reports 374 have fewer than 200 TSA officers performing screening functions.

Additionally, DHS has raised concerns about alleged abuse of certain benefit programs. In particular, the department criticized the Family and Medical Leave program, asserting it has been “exploited by a select few poor performers,” including incidents where TSA officers requested sick leave months in advance.

The termination of the collective bargaining agreement comes amid claims from the department that the union has allowed “poor performers” to remain in their positions, which DHS argues undermines the agency’s ability to effectively safeguard the nation’s transportation systems.

“This action will ensure a more effective and modernized workforce across the nation’s transportation networks,” the department said in its statement. “TSA is renewing its commitment to providing a quick and secure travel process for Americans.”

Currently, TSA is operating without an administrator or deputy administrator, which has raised questions about the leadership of the agency in the midst of this significant change.

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