The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) marked another successful year in 2023, making significant strides to improve transportation security effectiveness, efficiency and enhance the aviation passenger experience. In 2023, TSA screened a record 858+ million passengers, an average of 2.4 million daily passengers at airport security checkpoints across the country. In 2023, TSA set a new record by screening 2.9 million passengers the Sunday after Thanksgiving, while seven of the ten busiest days in TSA’s history took place in 2023.
“I am very proud of the work we accomplished together as an agency and with our partners in 2023, starting with the long-awaited goal of paying our employees fairly, at the same levels as their federal counterparts,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “At TSA, from our employees behind the scenes to those on the frontlines, we have built a culture of innovation and remain focused on staying ahead of the emerging threats. We have deployed new technology to improve security and the passenger experience, and look forward to continuing the progress this year with our incredible partners across government and industry.”
In 2023, the TSA workforce:
- Screened more than 858 million passengers, averaging about 2.4 million passengers per day; 484 million checked bags and 1.9 billion carry-on items. The agency also pre-screened nearly a billion passengers through Secure Flight.
- Prevented 6,737 firearms (93% loaded) from getting into the secure areas of the airport and onboard aircraft.
- Improved cybersecurity preparedness and resilience for critical transportation infrastructure through new performance-based cybersecurity requirements for airport and aircraft operators, as the agency has done with pipeline and rail systems in previous years.
- Executed a new compensation plan for TSA employees in July 2023 with funding from the FY23 Omnibus Bill, which recognizes the critical role all TSA employees play in securing the nation’s transportation systems. This plan compensates TSA employees at a level commensurate with employees of other federal agencies for the first time since the agency’s founding in 2001. As a result, TSA has seen a significant reduction in attrition and improvement in the ability to recruit for open positions.
- Implemented expanded collective bargaining rights for non-supervisory Transportation Security Officers (TSOs). The FY23 Omnibus Bill also supported the implementation of a labor framework for the non-supervisory screening workforce that aligns more closely with rights of employees in other federal agencies. The spending bill also supported Merit Systems Protection Board rights for TSOs, which were first established in September 2021.
- Retained a historic 88% of frontline employees and hired more than 9,000 new TSOs and Security Support Assistants (SSA) to handle future travel volumes.
- Trained frontline employees at their new state-of-the-art TSA Academy West at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and TSA Academy East in Glynco, Ga., where the 100,000th TSO graduated in September. Our advanced facilities train and equip TSOs with the tools to succeed in one of the most agile and innovative federal agencies to remain a staple of performance.
- Continued its efforts to serve and communicate quickly, efficiently and respectfully with all travelers.
- AskTSA responded directly to three million traveler questions, typically within two minutes, over social media and via text to AskTSA at 275-872.
- The TSA Contact Center answered two million traveler calls and emails.
- The TSA Cares helpline provided assistance to more than 71,000 travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances.
- Grew the TSA PreCheck® Trusted Traveler Program. In 2023, more than four million people enrolled in TSA PreCheck, bringing the total number of active TSA PreCheck members to more than 18 million. Additionally:
- Telos became the second…
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