by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Wed September 30, 2026
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced
it will remove chairs from airport security checkpoints nationwide, requiring
officers who check travelers’ identification to remain standing while doing so.
According to Reuters.com, the new policy applies specifically to TSA
officers conducting ID checks before travelers proceed through security, and
says agents must meet fitness-for-duty requirements and perform their security
responsibilities while remaining on their feet.
The agency said the change is intended to keep officers
alert and strengthen both security and customer service, but officials did not
indicate any other policy changes during the ID-check process or added
requirements for passengers.
The move has drawn criticism from the American Federation of
Government Employees TSA Council 100, which represents TSA employees, Reuters
reported.
The union said TSA agents were not consulted and argued that
chairs provide ergonomic and safety support for employees who spend long
periods standing and walking on hard surfaces.
The updated TSA policy comes as the federal agency faces
broader changes under the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has
proposed significant cuts to the TSA, including reducing its workforce and
shifting security operations at some smaller airports to private screeners.
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