3 airports to join new 'TSA Gold+' program: What does that mean for travelers?

A trio of U.S. airports is getting set to outsource security screening to private contractors in the coming months.Three airports — in Tampa, Des Moines, and Charleston, South Carolina — will be the first in the country to opt in to TSA Gold Plus, a program launched earlier this year by the Trump administration.Under the setup, third-party companies would partner with the Transportation Security Administration at participating hubs to manage airport security checkpoints and the officers that work them.Supporters say the move would help modernize and speed up airport security, as well as reduce the risk of long backups during government shutdowns.But critics argue that expanding privatized security to more airports presents security risks.HEATHER DIEHL/GETTY IMAGESHere's what to know about the changes and what they mean for air travel in the U.S.What is TSA Gold+?TSA Gold Plus is a new partnership program launched earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.It allows airports to voluntarily opt in to using private, third-party companies to manage security checkpoints instead of TSA officers employed by the federal government.Those companies would also manage the te...