ORLANDO, Fla. – “A slap in the face.”
That’s how leaders of a union representing Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers across Central Florida are reacting after Gov. Ron DeSantis publicly questioned the agency’s role during the ongoing partial government shutdown.
Union leaders with AFGE Local 556, which represents more than 2,500 TSA employees across Central and North Florida, say concerns among workers have surged in recent days.
They describe phones “ringing off the hook” with calls from officers worried about their jobs, their pay, and the future of airport security.
Despite the uncertainty, union representatives say they are standing firm.
Across the country, TSA lines have grown longer as the partial shutdown continues to strain staffing and resources.
“The whole workforce has been put through the ringer,” said Tatiana Finlay, a fair practice coordinator with the union.
Many TSA officers are already feeling the financial pressure tied to the shutdown. Now, union leaders say, recent remarks from the governor have only added to that stress.
When asked if the comments felt like a “slap in the face,” Finlay responded, “It is, 100 percent.”
Is there evidence that creating TSA has made air travel safer over the past 25 years?
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) March 21, 2026
If not, then why not let the airlines and airports handle it?
Why give politicians the power to play games with the travel of our people? https://t.co/mKvzqjKBof
Over the weekend, the governor posted on social media questioning the role of TSA and voiced support for shifting airport security responsibilities to possibly airlines and airports. It bring up the conversation of private screening contractors, an approach already used at some airports.
Union leaders strongly oppose the idea.
“You cannot put a price on the safety of the traveling public,” Finlay said. “Eliminating TSA out of airports would be a mistake.”
The debate has also sparked strong reactions from the public. In a News 6 viewer poll, opinions were mixed. Some respondents supported privatization, saying, “Each airport should be responsible for their own security.” Others pushed back, with comments like “It’s safe the way it is” and “Privatizing simply would lead to corruption.”
Finlay says many TSA workers say their commitment to safety is deeply personal.
“Many of us went into the agency right after 9/11 happened,” Finlay said. “We saw 9/11 and we don’t want it to happen again.”
She added that while no system is perfect, officers are constantly adapting to evolving threats. “We are learning with every evolution of threats that come our way. We might not catch it today, but we will learn from it.”
Even after enduring the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and now facing another partial shutdown, union leaders say TSA workers remain dedicated.
“We have been very resilient. We are still here,” Finlay said. “Even if they try to privatize, we will not go away without a fight.”