Travelers passing through airport security checkpoints nationwide may notice something different: the Transportation Security Administration officer checking IDs is now standing instead of sitting.
The TSA has ordered officers assigned to verify passenger identification to remain on their feet during that duty, saying the change is meant to project a stronger security posture and a more welcoming atmosphere for travelers.
“This welcome change reinforces both our security posture and our commitment to hospitality by having these officers on their feet and alert,” the agency said in a statement issued to multiple news outlets. “All officers must meet fitness for duty requirements to be capable of performing their vital national security function.”
The policy took effect roughly two months after David Cummins became TSA Administrator and launched a broader effort to improve the passenger experience at checkpoints across the country.
Union Says It Wasn’t Consulted
The American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council 100, which represents the officers, says it was not consulted before the policy was rolled out at most TSA-staffed airports in the United States. Roughly 20 U.S. airports, including San Francisco International and Kansas City International, instead use private screeners through the TSA’s Screening Partnership Program and are not directly affected.
The union has argued that checkpoint chairs provide basic ergonomic and safety support for officers who already spend long hours standing and walking on hard terminal floors, and it has signaled plans to challenge the change.
“The hard floors they are standing on do not offer any support, which can cause foot and back issues,” said Daniel Bubb, Ph.D., a commercial aviation professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who previously worked as an airline customer service representative and performed airport security duties himself.
Bubb said anti-fatigue mats for officers now required to stand could help reduce the physical strain of the new policy.
What the Policy Actually Covers
The standing requirement applies only to officers checking passengers’ identification before screening begins, according to reports. Officers operating X-ray scanners for carry-on bags may continue sitting while they work, and TSA officers typically rotate through multiple checkpoint assignments over the course of an eight-hour shift, an agency spokesperson told The New York Times.
Not everyone expects the change to be noticeable to travelers. Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert who writes the blog “View From the Wing,” told Fox News Digital he doesn’t think the shift will have much impact on the airport experience.
“As a passenger, I don’t care whether the person checking my ID is sitting,” Leff said. “They should be paying attention, treating passengers with respect and moving the line efficiently. I’m not sure a stool is a problem.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the TSA for additional comment.
