Newly confirmed TSA Administrator David P. Cummins launched the “Horizon 25 Strategy,” a forward-looking security framework marking the Transportation Security Administration’s 25th anniversary since its creation after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, on Aug. 24.
The strategy sets agency priorities for screening technology, workforce development and risk-based security through the next phase of TSA’s existence, Cummins said in the announcement. The framework arrives as the agency screens nearly 2.5 million passengers daily at airports across the country.
For the traveling public, TSA’s strategic direction determines the speed, intrusiveness and effectiveness of airport security screening. Investments in new technology could reduce wait times and improve threat detection, while workforce development choices affect the professionalism and retention of the screening workforce.
Cummins is the first new TSA administrator confirmed in several years, giving him an opportunity to set direction for an agency that has faced persistent criticism over staffing shortages, screener turnover and technology that some experts consider outdated.
The Horizon 25 Strategy is described as addressing the evolving threat landscape the agency faces, including insider threats, novel explosive devices and the increasing use of drones near airports. TSA’s mission has expanded significantly since 2001 to include surface transportation, pipeline security and cybersecurity responsibilities.
Full document details — including specific enrollment targets for the PreCheck expedited screening program, emerging technology investment levels and staffing goals — were not yet public in available release content.
PreCheck enrollment has been a particular focus for the agency, as expanding the trusted traveler population allows TSA to concentrate screening resources on unknown travelers who pose higher statistical risk.
TSA has also faced pressure to modernize its screening equipment, with critics arguing that aging X-ray machines and explosive trace detection systems need replacement with AI-enhanced imaging and automated threat recognition technology. The strategy’s implementation will unfold over the coming years under Cummins’ leadership.