TSA to bar airport security officers from sitting during passenger ID checks

The US Transportation Security Administration will no longer allow officers who check travelers’ boarding passes and identification before security checkpoints to sit while working.

The agency said the policy is intended to keep officers alert while maintaining a professional and welcoming environment for passengers. TSA also said all officers must meet fitness-for-duty requirements for their national security role.

Union challenges the policy

The American Federation of Government Employees Council, which represents TSA officers, said it was not involved in the decision. The union said chairs provide basic ergonomic and safety support for officers who stand and walk on hard surfaces throughout the day.

AFGEC described the move as a disregard for employee rights and safety and urged workers to join a broader resistance to changes under Donald Trump’s administration.

Other disputes involving TSA

The union is also reviewing legal options to oppose a program that would expand the privatization of security checkpoints at three airports.

The chair policy follows a difficult year for TSA. During a 76-day government shutdown from February to April, officers worked without pay; some did not report for unpaid duty or left their jobs, and security lines grew across the United States.

Workers were paid at the end of March after an order from Donald Trump. The shutdown ended on April 30, when the US House passed legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security.