DC Airports Consider Dropping the TSA

It's time to go back to private contractors for airport security and even the DC airports are considering a change:

Some of the nation's biggest airports are responding to recent public outrage over security screening by weighing whether they should hire private firms such as Covenant to replace the Transportation Security Administration. Sixteen airports, including San Francisco and Kansas City International Airport, have made the switch since 2002. One Orlando airport has approved the change but needs to select a contractor, and several others are seriously considering it.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which governs Dulles International and Reagan National airports, is studying the option, spokeswoman Tara Hamilton said.

For airports, the change isn't about money. At issue, airport managers and security experts say, is the unwieldy size and bureaucracy of the federal aviation security system. Private firms may be able to do the job more efficiently and with a personal touch, they argue.

Isn't the "personal touch" part of the problem? A lot of people have been getting very personal touches from the TSA and they're not happy about it.

Service and efficiency rarely improve when the government gets involved. That's certainly been true with the TSA.  Private contractors, who know they can be fired if they do a poor job or get too many passenger complaints, will be far more motivated than the TSA to keep the security procedures as unobtrusive as possible.  It's time to bring them back.