In a recent development, the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill faces potential turbulence with an amendment proposed by Senators Jeff Merkley and John Kennedy. The proposed amendment, if enacted, could significantly disrupt airport operations and impact travelers nationwide.
According to an analysis by the U.S. Travel Association, the proposed amendment has raised concerns regarding potential delays at TSA checkpoints. It is estimated that travelers could experience an additional 120 million hours of wait time annually, affecting both TSA PreCheck and standard screening lanes.
Moreover, the proposal raises apprehensions about national security by potentially hindering the use of facial recognition technology by TSA for non-PreCheck passengers.
Eliminating the use of biometrics — such as facial scans — will set America back by decades.
“The proposed amendment to FAA reauthorization is dangerous, costly and threatens to create chaos at America’s airports,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Eliminating the use of biometrics — such as facial scans — will set America back by decades, and only misinformed members of Congress are to blame."
The Merkley/Kennedy Amendment seeks to impose a complete ban on TSA’s use of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) until certain requirements are met, which could lead to significant disruptions as TSA staff would need retraining; technology would need to be removed and redeployed; and screening lanes would require reconfiguration.
Furthermore, the proposal aims to restrict the use of FRT for non-trusted travelers and halt the expansion of FRT matching technology to new airports until May 2027. It also puts limitations on the expansion and enrollment in TSA PreCheck Touchless Identity Solution beyond existing customers and specific airports.
Geoff Freeman emphasized the potential ramifications of the proposed legislation. He commended TSA for its efforts in innovating security technology and criticized Congress for potentially hindering these advancements.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by the U.S. Travel Association. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
