Passenger Security Act of 2005

The Passenger Security Act of 2005 (H.R. 3172) proposed a significant change to how security is managed at United States airports by requiring that all passenger and baggage screening be conducted exclusively by federal employees. Specifically, the bill sought to repeal the "opt-out" program, which allows airport operators to apply to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to use qualified private screening companies instead of federal personnel. For the average traveler, this legislation would have ensured that security procedures and staffing at every commercial airport remained under direct federal control rather than being outsourced to private contractors.