US ends collective bargaining for 50,000 airport security officers

The Trump administration said Friday it is ending collective bargaining for more than 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers that staff checkpoints at U.S. airports and other transportation hubs.

The Homeland Security Department said the move will remove bureaucratic hurdles, while the union representing workers did not immediately comment.

President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 forced out TSA administrator David Pekoske, whom he had named to the job in 2017 and was reappointed by former President Joe Biden.

Trump has not yet named a candidate to replace Pekoske.

The TSA reached a new seven-year labor deal in May 2024 with the American Federation of Government Employees after nearly a year of negotiations. The Biden administration expanded the scope of bargaining permitted in 2022.

Workers got enhanced shift trade options, increased allowance for uniforms and the addition of parental bereavement leave and weather and safety leave.