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The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is removing chairs from airport security checkpoints, meaning TSA officers checking passenger identification will no longer be able to sit while performing the task.
The American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council 100, which represents TSA workers, criticized the decision, calling it a “disregard for workers’ rights and safety.” The union said chairs provide basic ergonomic and safety support for officers who spend much of their shifts standing and walking on hard surfaces.
TSA confirmed the policy change, arguing that requiring officers to stand will strengthen airport security and improve interactions with travelers. The agency said having officers “on their feet and alert” supports its security mission and commitment to hospitality, adding that employees must meet fitness-for-duty requirements.
The change comes amid broader efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to reshape TSA operations. In April, Trump proposed eliminating more than 9,400 positions and cutting over $1.5 billion, or roughly 20%, from the annual budget of the approximately 60,000-worker agency.
Trump also proposed requiring smaller airports to employ private security screeners, potentially reducing TSA’s workforce by more than 4,500 additional positions. Around 20 U.S. airports, including facilities serving San Francisco, Kansas City and Sarasota, Florida, already use private screeners.
In August, the Senate confirmed David Cummins, previously a senior vice president at government services company Serco, to lead the TSA. Trump had fired former TSA Administrator David Pekoske on his first day back in office in 2025 and went 16 months without nominating a permanent replacement.
TSA employees have also faced recent workplace disruptions. A lengthy government shutdown this spring left about 50,000 TSA workers without pay for six weeks, contributing to severe airport delays and security lines that reportedly reached four hours or longer.
CNN first reported the new checkpoint seating policy on Tuesday.
