WASHINGTON, D.C. — David Cummins testified at his Senate confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on July 16, 2026, as President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Transportation Security Administration. His appearance came amid ongoing concerns from Democratic lawmakers and the union representing TSA officers about the potential expansion of airport screening privatization and the agency’s ability to retain staff after a recent government shutdown.

Cummins defended the existing Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which allows airports to use private contractors for screening operations under TSA oversight, calling it “pro-worker” and asserting it would not threaten the future of the TSA workforce. He emphasized that during the 2026 partial government shutdown—when TSA employees worked for weeks without pay—airports operating under the SPP continued to compensate their screeners. “I hold that it is in fact pro-worker to pay your employees, as the SPP airports did during the last shutdowns,” Cummins stated.

The TSA employs roughly 60,000 workers responsible for security operations at more than 440 airports nationwide. The 2026 shutdown prompted approximately 1,100 TSA officers to resign, highlighting vulnerabilities in workforce stability during funding lapses. In response, Cummins pledged that, if confirmed, he would “do everything in my power to protect and support them in the future,” including visiting airports to reassure employees directly. He also expressed support for the Keep America Flying Act, legislation that would guarantee TSA employees receive pay during future government funding gaps.

Cummins sought to allay fears that expanding the SPP would displace federal screeners. He said existing TSA employees would have the “right of first refusal” to take screening jobs at airports that join the program and stated that, in his experience, all employees offered such positions accept them and remain employed. “The existing Screening Partnership Program is pro-worker and will not be a threat to the future of the TSA workforce,” he added.

A former senior vice president at government contractor Serco, Cummins also highlighted his background in transportation security and operations. According to a now-removed LinkedIn profile, he helped develop transportation technologies and was co-awarded a dozen patents in transportation systems. The same profile noted that he led operations planning for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. During his testimony, Cummins acknowledged the agency’s historical context, noting that the TSA was created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and operates as part of the Department of Homeland Security.

Looking ahead to the agency’s upcoming 25th anniversary, Cummins described a moment of both challenge and opportunity. “The challenges ahead are significant, but the opportunities to transform the TSA on the eve of its 25th anniversary are even greater,” he said. He also addressed political interference in aviation security, stating, “We all need to recognize that aviation security is impaired oftentimes by politics.” On a separate issue, Cummins said he had not been briefed on any “near-term plans” to pull Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in sanctuary cities.

The confirmation of a new TSA administrator comes at a critical juncture for the agency, which faces workforce retention issues following the 2026 shutdown and ongoing debates about the role of private contractors in federal security operations. Democratic lawmakers and the TSA officers’ union have raised concerns that expanding the Screening Partnership Program could undermine a core government function, while Cummins’ assurances about worker protections and continuity aim to bridge those concerns. His support for the Keep America Flying Act signals alignment with efforts to insulate frontline security personnel from future budgetary disruptions.

Cummins’ experience with private-sector security contractors and large-scale transportation events like the 2002 Olympics informs his approach to modernizing TSA operations. If confirmed, he would lead an agency responsible for securing the nation’s civil aviation system as it approaches a quarter-century of existence, with policy choices that could reshape how screening is delivered across hundreds of U.S. airports.