TSA Officers Will No Longer Be Allowed to Sit During Airport ID Checks

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers will no longer be allowed to sit while checking passenger IDs and boarding passes at U.S. airport checkpoints.

The agency has begun removing chairs and stools from security stations across U.S. commercial airports, according to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) TSA Council 100, the union that represents the workers.

The TSA confirmed the decision, stating that the change is intended to reinforce “security posture.” It also said it wants to ensure officers remain alert, and enhance the overall hospitality experience for travelers. The agency added that all officers are required to meet fitness-for-duty standards to carry out their national security responsibilities.

AFGE TSA Council 100 criticized the move as a disregard for worker safety and rights, pointing out that the seating provides a break for workers who stand and walk on hard surfaces for entire shifts.

It’s been a turbulent time for the TSA. The last budget proposal from the White House would cut more than 9,400 positions and trim $1.5 billion—roughly 20%—from the itss annual operating budget.

There’s also been a push to require smaller regional airports to transition to private security screeners, which would reduce federal payrolls by another 4,500 jobs.

The TSA also just got a new leader after the Senate confirmed David Cummins, a former senior vice president at government services firm Serco, to lead the agency following a 16-month vacancy at the top post.