The Blubber

Republican senators are unveiling legislation on Thursday aimed at abolishing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), citing concerns over the agency’s intrusion into Americans’ privacy and personal space.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) is leading the bill alongside Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).

“The TSA has not only intruded into the privacy and personal space of most Americans, it has also repeatedly failed tests to find weapons and explosives,” Lee said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“Our bill privatizes security functions at American airports under the eye of an Office of Aviation Security Oversight, bringing this bureaucratic behemoth to a welcome end. American families can travel safely without feeling the hands of an army of federal employees.”

The proposal would officially eliminate the TSA three years after its enactment, allowing time for airport security functions to transition to private contractors. It also requires the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Transportation to develop and submit a reorganization plan to Congress.

In his own statement, Tuberville said:

“The TSA is an inefficient, bureaucratic mess that infringes on Americans’ freedoms. It’s a bloated agency—riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars—that has led to unnecessary delays, invasive pat-downs and bag checks, and frustration for travelers.”
“We need to focus on more efficient and effective methods to protect our country without sacrificing the liberties and freedoms of American citizens. The TSA should be eliminated and replaced with privatized solutions that are more targeted, streamlined, and, where appropriate, accountable to limited government oversight.”

The legislation explicitly states that the reorganization plan cannot mandate warrantless searches by private security firms or expand TSA’s authority in any way.

Once the reorganization plan is submitted, Congress would review it.

The bill also proposes the creation of an Office of Aviation Security Oversight, housed within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which would be responsible for supervising the privatization of airport security screenings.

Lee and Tuberville’s legislation comes as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues to push for significant cuts to administrative agencies within the executive branch.