Congressman Andy Harris urged Maryland officials on Mar. 30 to apply for the Transportation Security Administration’s Screening Partnership Program after reports of five-hour wait times at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
The call comes as travelers have faced long delays at BWI, raising concerns about airport efficiency and passenger experience. The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) allows airports to contract private security companies under federal oversight while maintaining all TSA standards. Airports already in the program, such as San Francisco International Airport and Kansas City International Airport, have not experienced the same level of delays seen at many TSA-run checkpoints.
Harris said, “Five-hour security lines at BWI are unacceptable for Marylanders and the millions of travelers who rely on this airport. President Trump’s emergency order to fund TSA agents will ease immediate strain, but restoring full staffing and operations will take time. Airports in the Screening Partnership Program are not experiencing the delays seen at BWI. Maryland should apply now to ensure this does not happen again at BWI.”
According to available information, Andy Harris is currently serving in the U.S. Congress representing Maryland’s 1st district since replacing Frank Kratovil in 2011. He previously served in both chambers of the Maryland legislature from 1999 until his election to Congress.
Harris was born in New York City in 1957 and currently resides in Cambridge. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977.
The letter sent by Harris can be viewed online, with media inquiries directed to Michella Carter.
