Arriving at the airport and heading to your gate, Americans must first pass through a security checkpoint, where a Transportation Security Administration agent verifies their ID, passport or boarding pass.
Agents are typically behind a booth with a computer and scanner, calling passengers up one by one, and that’s not changing. But one thing is: those agents will now always be standing.
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TSA decided officers will no longer be allowed to sit while verifying passengers’ identities. The move has sparked concern among TSA unions, who say the decision shows a “disregard for workers’ rights and safety.”
TSA officers must meet a range of requirements before they can screen passengers, including background checks and physical and medical evaluations. But does requiring officers to stand throughout their shifts raise new questions about accessibility and workplace accommodations?
TSA’s new policy
Reports indicate TSA is actively removing chairs from airports nationwide to keep agents alert while checking IDs.
“This welcome change reinforces both our security posture and our commitment to hospitality by having these officers on their feet and alert,” TSA said in a statement.
Meanwhile, a union for TSA workers, the American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council 100, is pushing back on the change. The union said it was not consulted before the change, and said chairs “serve as basic ergonomic and safety support for officers that stand and walk on hard surfaces all day.”
The union added, “TSA is treating this matter like it is a privilege it is not; it is basic safety and common decency for the workforce.”
OSHA and ‘right-to-sit’
And despite numerous states across the U.S. having “right-to-sit” laws, TSA can require employees to stand because their roles are federal. The Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the Constitution allows federal mandates to supersede state-level laws.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also recognizes prolonged static standing as a hazard enforceable under its General Duty Clause. However, to enforce that clause, workers must rely on “right-to-sit” laws, which don’t apply on federal grounds.
Accessibility and TSA qualifications
TSA has also defended itself against accessibility concerns, saying all officers must meet job and fitness requirements to be hired.
However, TSA currently has no standard physical test for applicants. Instead, applicants must pass a medical evaluation that includes a medical history questionnaire, hearing and vision testing, and an evaluation of physical coordination and motor skills.
TSA’s medical guidelines also outline physical requirements for transportation security officers, including the ability to stand continuously for up to four hours without a break during passenger checkpoint screening. The guidelines list standing for up to four hours without a break as an essential job function.
At the same time, TSA has a Reasonable Accommodation Program for employees and applicants with disabilities. Some employees may have disabilities or medical conditions that make prolonged standing difficult. How TSA plans to accommodate those individuals under the new chair-less policy is unclear.
TSA did not respond to Straight Arrow’s specific questions regarding accessibility adjustments.
The average TSA officer
The new policy impacts officers across the board, including all ages and airports. While the average age of TSA officers in the U.S. is around 41, Data USA says employees range from 20 to 70.
As of 2024, the age ranges that dominate the workforce were 20-29, 30 to 34 and 35 to 39.
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