By Chip Rogers, CEO, Americans for Fair Treatment

At Americans for Fair Treatment (AFFT), we stand for workers who deserve transparency, accountability, and fairness in their workplaces. Today, I am proud to announce that our relentless advocacy has contributed to a monumental shift at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has declared an end to collective bargaining for more than 50,000 TSA Transportation Security Officers. This decision will refocus the agency on its core mission of keeping Americans safe while ensuring employees are judged on merit, not union loyalty.

This victory began with the courage of TSA screeners who came to AFFT with serious concerns about their union, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

They told us of a system where union priorities overshadowed the public’s safety, where too many officers were paid taxpayer dollars to work full-time on union matters instead of screening passengers, and where the union routinely colluded with management against officers.

Frustrated by a lack of answers, AFFT took action. We filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with TSA, demanding transparency about why TSA thought it was legal to allow a union for screeners who protect our national security.

When TSA stonewalled us, ignoring its legal obligations, we didn’t back down. AFFT sued the TSA for failing to comply with FOIA, shining a spotlight on an agency that had lost its way.

Our efforts paid off. DHS has now confirmed what AFFT’s work helped expose: at 86% of U.S. airports, the TSA has more officers doing “full-time union work” than performing screening duties. These officers, funded by taxpayers, often lack certification to screen passengers, leaving airports understaffed and security lines clogged.  And the union was never legally allowed in the first place.

A recent TSA employee survey further revealed that over 60% of “poor performers” are allowed to stay, dragging down morale and efficiency. DHS rightly concluded that collective bargaining had become a bureaucratic hurdle, impeding TSA’s ability to safeguard our transportation systems.

Thanks to AFFT’s lawsuit and advocacy, TSA has eliminated these inefficiencies. Collective bargaining is out, and merit-based promotions are in. Officers will no longer see their hard-earned dollars funneled to a union that fails to represent them. Instead, their performance, not longevity or union ties, will determine their success.

As DHS noted, this shift will shorten passenger wait times, enhance productivity, and modernize the workforce-all while renewing TSA’s commitment to a quick and secure travel process for Americans.

This is a win for TSA employees, travelers, and taxpayers alike, and AFFT is proud to have played a pivotal role. When workers spoke up, we listened. When TSA ignored us, we fought back. And now, with DHS’s bold action under Secretary Noem and the Trump Administration’s leadership, we’ve helped deliver a system that puts safety and fairness first. At AFFT, we’ll keep standing up for workers because they deserve nothing less.