Biometric Security Gates Let Some Travelers Skip the TSA ID Check at These 3 Airports

CLEAR and the Transportation Security Administration have begun piloting biometric eGates at three major US airports — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Ronald Reagan Washington National, and Seattle-Tacoma — in advance of an anticipated surge in international arrivals tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the US semiquincentennial.

The pilot program allows CLEAR Plus members to verify their identity at a facial recognition-enabled gate, which matches their live image to a boarding pass and government-issued ID. Once cleared, passengers bypass the TSA document-check podium and proceed directly to security screening. TSA maintains full vetting control but delegates the initial identity check to the automated system.

According to both agencies, the initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce congestion at security checkpoints through automation and public-private collaboration. CLEAR is funding the pilot, meaning there’s currently no cost to taxpayers.

The launch comes amid notable shifts in the TSA’s operational posture. In recent weeks, the agency eliminated the requirement to remove shoes during screening and started touchless ID for TSA PreCheck members. Further updates — including possible changes to liquid restrictions — are reportedly under consideration.

While biometric screening has faced scrutiny over privacy and accuracy concerns, the move signals increasing institutional comfort with automated identity verification. Unlike CBP’s facial recognition program at international arrivals, CLEAR’s system does not access government watchlists and cannot override TSA screening decisions. It also can’t open gates on its own.

CLEAR plans to expand the eGate program to 30 additional airports by the end of 2025. Whether the technology can scale to meet the demands of unprecedented global and domestic travel remains a central question. For now, it offers a preview of how airport security may be leaving the long lines behind just as it’s needed most with major travel events in the near future.

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