Washington and Other Major US Cities Brace for TSA Horizon 25 Airport Screening Overhaul

Written By: Debomita Dutta

Debomita Dutta

As a debater, researcher and writer I have always been passionate about making complex global developments accessible, accurate and impactful. It has always been my aim to combine a strong analytic approach with incredible storytelling - and here at Travel and Tour World I get to do just that! Bridging research, public discourse and meaningful communication through informed and engaging narratives.

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August 24, 2026 19:45 GMT+5:30

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Washington and other major US aviation cities are moving towards a sweeping airport security transformation as the Transportation Security Administration advances Horizon 25. The strategy aims to modernise checkpoints, speed passenger processing, strengthen transport security and accelerate the use of next-generation technology. Travellers could increasingly encounter computed tomography scanners, biometric identity checks, touchless verification and enhanced TSA PreCheck services. Yet the transition will unfold gradually. TSA has not released an airport-by-airport Horizon 25 rollout schedule, meaning the biggest changes will arrive in stages rather than through one nationwide switch.

TSA Horizon 25 Signals a Major Shift in US Airport Security

Horizon 25 brings multiple strands of airport security into one broader strategy. TSA is focusing on checkpoint modernisation, traveller experience, stronger multimodal security and faster technology deployment.

The strategy centres on:

• Expanding next-generation screening systems
• Improving TSA PreCheck
• Advancing biometric and digital identity tools
• Strengthening counter-drone security
• Increasing private-sector cooperation
• Accelerating federal technology procurement

The most important shift is not one new scanner or one faster lane. TSA is moving towards a more connected screening model where identity verification, baggage inspection, passenger screening and threat detection work together more efficiently.

For travellers, that could mean less friction. For airports, it could mean better use of limited checkpoint space as passenger volumes continue to rise.

Washington, New York, Los Angeles and Other Major US Gateways Could See Change

Washington sits at the centre of the strategy because TSA policy is set at the federal level and the capital region is served by several major airports, including Reagan National, Washington Dulles and Baltimore/Washington International.

Other major aviation markets likely to feel the wider effects of TSA modernisation include:

• New York and Newark
• Los Angeles
• Chicago
• Atlanta
• Dallas-Fort Worth
• Denver
• Miami
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Boston

These cities are not confirmed Horizon 25 rollout locations. TSA has not assigned specific Horizon 25 technologies to individual airports through a published national schedule.

That distinction is critical. Different airports have different layouts, passenger volumes, equipment and infrastructure. Modernisation will therefore depend on local readiness as much as federal ambition.

$215 Million CT Plan Shows the Scale of the TSA Screening Overhaul

The Department of Homeland Security’s FY2026 TSA budget documents reveal how much financial weight sits behind checkpoint modernisation.

The FY2026 President’s Budget requests $215 million for the Checkpoint Property Screening System programme.

TSA checkpoint investment at a glance

Computed tomography scanners can generate detailed three-dimensional images of carry-on baggage. That gives officers more information than conventional two-dimensional X-ray screening.

For passengers, the real advantage is not the technology itself. Better imaging can help officers identify suspicious items faster, reduce unnecessary bag searches and resolve alarms with greater precision.

One figure stands out: even after the proposed expansion, TSA would reach only about 55% of its planned CT capability. That strongly suggests the transformation will extend across several years.

A $100 Million-Plus Procurement Shows This Is a Long-Term Airport Transformation

Separate Department of Homeland Security acquisition records show another Checkpoint Property Screening System procurement valued at more than $100 million.

The planned contract covers CT systems, installation, maintenance, logistics and technical support, with procurement planning extending into 2036.

That timeline matters.

This is not a short upgrade cycle. TSA and DHS are preparing for airport screening changes that could continue for roughly a decade.

For airports, that means long-term planning around terminal layouts, electrical systems, equipment replacement and staff training. For travellers, it means screening procedures may change gradually from airport to airport.

Biometrics and Touchless Identity Could Make Airport Checkpoints Faster

Identity verification is becoming one of the most important parts of airport modernisation.

TSA has already moved technologies such as CAT-2, AutoCAT and TSA PreCheck Touchless Identity into its current technology framework.

CAT-2 combines credential authentication with camera-based identity verification. Touchless Identity allows eligible passengers who choose to participate to verify their identity with less reliance on repeatedly presenting physical documents.

Potential benefits include:

• Faster identity checks
• Less document handling
• Better flow for trusted travellers
• More automated checkpoint processing
• Greater consistency at participating airports

Biometrics should not be confused with compulsory processing for every passenger. TSA has not announced universal facial recognition under Horizon 25.

The broader direction is clear, however: the future US checkpoint is becoming as much about digital identity as physical screening.

TSA PreCheck Could Become Even More Important as Passenger Demand Grows

TSA’s own operational data shows the size of the system it is trying to modernise.

In 2024, the agency reported:

• 904 million travellers screened
• 2.1 billion carry-on bags processed
• 494 million checked bags screened
• 20 million Known Traveller Number holders

These numbers explain why small efficiency gains matter.

If an airport can reduce repeated checks, automate identity verification or resolve baggage alarms faster, the benefit multiplies across millions of passengers.

This is where TSA PreCheck becomes strategically important. Trusted-traveller programmes can help airports separate passenger flows earlier and use screening capacity more efficiently.

The long-term battle is therefore not simply about adding more lanes. It is about moving more passengers through existing infrastructure without weakening security.

150 Advanced Imaging Units Add Another Layer to Airport Modernisation

TSA modernisation also includes plans for 150 Advanced Imaging Technology units for federalised US airports.

The procurement is estimated at $20 million to $50 million and includes installation and maintenance.

A separate engineering requirement in the same value range covers areas including:

• Identity management
• Passenger screening
• Baggage systems
• Alarm resolution
• Accessible-property screening

Taken together, these programmes show that TSA is building several layers of capability at once.

CT improves baggage inspection. Advanced imaging strengthens passenger screening. Digital identity speeds credential verification. Engineering systems connect the technology.

That integrated approach could become one of Horizon 25’s defining features.

AI and Facial Recognition Push US Airport Security Into a New Era

Artificial intelligence is also entering TSA’s technology pipeline.

Federal acquisition planning has identified:

• Artificial intelligence
• Facial recognition
• Cybersecurity
• 5G and 6G communications
• Advanced data management
• Surveillance technology

The key point is not that AI will replace screening officers. The more realistic development is that software could help staff analyse information faster, identify anomalies and resolve security alarms more efficiently.

That changes the nature of airport security.

The next generation of screening may depend as much on data, automation and software integration as on physical machines.

FAA Forecasts Show Why Faster Airport Screening Is Becoming Essential

The Federal Aviation Administration expects US aviation demand to keep growing.

US carrier enplanement outlook

FAA also forecasts around 875.4 million domestic enplanements in FY2026.

FAA enplanements and TSA checkpoint screenings are different statistical measures, so they should not be combined. But both point to the same challenge: US airports must prepare for enormous passenger volumes.

This creates a simple operational reality. Airport security cannot depend indefinitely on adding more staff and more physical lanes.

Automation and smarter passenger processing will become increasingly important as demand grows.

Counter-Drone Security Adds a New Dimension to Traveller Protection

Horizon 25 also highlights stronger counter-unmanned aircraft capabilities.

Drone activity near airports can quickly become a passenger problem because unauthorised aircraft can trigger:

• Ground stops
• Runway restrictions
• Flight delays
• Diversions
• Additional security measures

That means airport security now extends well beyond the checkpoint.

Protecting passenger journeys increasingly requires airports and federal agencies to secure both terminals and surrounding airspace.

What Travellers Should Expect From TSA Horizon 25

The most practical way to understand Horizon 25 is as a gradual airport transformation.

Travellers could increasingly encounter:

• CT carry-on scanners
• Automated credential checks
• Biometric identity verification
• Touchless TSA PreCheck processing
• Advanced passenger-screening systems
• Faster digitally supported alarm resolution

However, TSA has not announced:

• Identical technology at every airport
• Mandatory facial recognition for all travellers
• Nationwide Touchless Identity access
• An end to the 3-1-1 liquids rule through Horizon 25
• A universal new checkpoint wait-time target
• A confirmed city-by-city deployment schedule

That means passengers should expect uneven progress as airports modernise at different speeds.

Why TSA Horizon 25 Could Redefine the US Travel Experience

Horizon 25 matters because airport security shapes how travellers experience the United States long before they reach their final destination.

Long queues, repeated document checks and inconsistent screening create friction. Smarter systems can potentially reduce that pressure while maintaining stronger security.

The federal investment pipeline shows that this transformation is already moving beyond theory. CT scanners, biometrics, TSA PreCheck, artificial intelligence, advanced imaging and counter-drone technology are increasingly part of the same security ecosystem.

In conclusion, for Washington and other major US cities, the real change will not come from one dramatic announcement. It will emerge checkpoint by checkpoint as TSA builds a more automated, connected and scalable airport system. With FAA forecasts pointing towards 1.623 billion US carrier enplanements by 2046, that transformation is becoming a capacity issue as much as a security one. The airports that adapt fastest could ultimately offer travellers something increasingly valuable: stronger security with less friction and a smoother journey from kerb to gate.