Leidos CEO Tom Bell revealed during a policy event in Washington, D.C., that his company is working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to build a next‑generation airport screening system. The prototype promises remote‑operated checkpoints, automated baggage screening, and fewer human bottlenecks—designed to replace traditional long security lines.
“You go to any airport globally, and it makes Dulles look like not the airport we would all be so proud of,” Bell told attendees at the November 7 event. He said the system is being prototyped now and will align with major upcoming global events in 2026, such as the U.S. Semiquincentennial, the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. Bell referred to the project as part of America’s effort to “be seen as a modern, progressive society that is embracing technology and… everything that America stands for.”
Bell highlighted that the system would enable airports to “automate that process, getting the humans up and out, thinking about the whole situation as opposed to an individual bag.” He said the screening facilities will be “world‑class” and capable of better handling the flow of international travelers.
He also praised Kristi Noem, the DHS Secretary, calling her “another great cabinet member of the Trump Administration,” and said she is committed to fostering an environment “great for the international traveler.”
Earlier in the day, Sean Duffy, the Secretary of Transportation, discussed the department’s request for $31.5 billion to complete modernization of the U.S. air‑traffic control system (ATC), with $12.5 billion already directed toward telecom and surveillance hardware. Duffy said President Donald Trump fully supports the effort and called the overhaul a bipartisan priority.
