Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) is taking bold action against what many Republicans see as one of the most bloated government agencies— the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Lee introduced legislation to abolish the TSA, aiming to eliminate or transfer all its enforcement functions and programs swiftly. For years, travelers have endured excessive screening procedures, long lines, and intrusive pat-downs, all while the agency has repeatedly failed security tests and mismanaged taxpayer dollars. Lee’s proposal underscores a broader push to dial back federal overreach and return airport security responsibilities to more accountable private-sector alternatives or state-level control.
Along with Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), the Republican senators have accused the TSA of invading travelers' privacy and personal space. The Abolish the TSA Act would direct Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem “to expeditiously eliminate or transfer all authorities, enforcement functions, and programs of the Administration.” It would also privatize airport security under a new Office of Aviation Security Oversight, dismantling the agency.
The senators argued that TSA is not “equipped” to manage threats posed to airports and airplanes, describing it as a “bureaucratic leviathan.”
In addition to dissolving the TSA, the bill would operate under the Federal Aviation Administration and transfer security activities and equipment to private companies. The legislation would adhere not only to aviation but to the entirety of the Department of Transportation, which includes mass transit, freight rail, and pipelines.
“The TSA is an inefficient, bureaucratic mess that infringes on Americans’ freedoms,” Tuberville said. “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.”
According to a 2017 undercover test, TSA screeners failed to find and confiscate test weapons more than 50 percent of the time. Similarly, a 2015 investigation showed that TSA agents failed to detect 95 percent of test items.
Several Democrats criticized Tubberville and Lee’s proposed bill after the Utah senator asked his X followers, “Who supports my bill to abolish TSA?”
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) responded, “Bin Laden.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schulz (D-FL) said, “The Ayatollah, probably.” She was referring to Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
