Airforwarders Association
The Airforwarders Association (AfA) is a global alliance of indirect air carriers, cargo airlines and affiliated businesses. The association represents member companies, ranging from small businesses to those with over 1,000 people, dedicated to moving cargo throughout the supply chain.
Visit www.airforwarders.org
Photo caption: Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association (left) receives a token of appreciation for service to the air cargo industry from Alicia Lines, President, Cargo Network Services (right).
To view and download more images click the “images and files” tab.
AIRFORWARDERS ASSOCIATION WARNS AGAINST TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION PRIVATIZATION
Executive Director’s keynote at CNS Partnership Conference warned reduced federal oversight could weaken aviation security and undermine lessons learned after September 11 2001
San Francisco, United States, Tuesday 19th June 2026: The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has warned against the Administration’s budget proposals to cut and privatize elements of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), arguing such changes risk undermining aviation security frameworks established after September 11 2001.
The warning was delivered by Brandon Fried in a keynote address to the CNS Partnership Conference in San Francisco today.
“The lessons of September 11 are clear, and the stakes are too high for failure,” said Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association.
“Any move to weaken federal oversight of passenger screening risks reintroducing vulnerabilities the system was designed to eliminate.”
Federalization of passenger screening under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act came as a direct response to systemic weaknesses exposed prior to September 11, when outsourced security contracts often prioritized cost over effectiveness.
Fried argued freight forwarders built an effective government and industry security model through the Known Shipper program, Certified Cargo Screening Program, and Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS).
They allow certified operators to screen cargo before it reaches airports and submit advance data before departure, while TSA, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and industry maintain national standards and accountability.
The AfA said this model should not be used to justify passenger screening privatization, where fragmented procurement and contracts driven by cost were among the weaknesses federalization was designed to address.
“The air cargo industry has shown that public-private partnerships can work, but only when there is strong federal oversight setting the standards and enforcing compliance,” added Fried.
“Applying this model to passenger screening without strict TSA oversight would significantly increase risk.”
The Association called on policymakers to reject proposals that would privatize passenger screening functions and instead maintain and strengthen TSA authority to ensure consistent, nationwide aviation security standards.
About the Airforwarders Association
The Airforwarders Association (AfA) represents hundreds of U.S companies dedicated to moving cargo through the supply chain on all modes of transport.
AfA has been supporting member companies of all sizes for 35 years, acting as the voice of the industry and lobbying legislators to help drive sustainable practices and ensure resilient, safe, secure supply chains.
As an alliance of indirect air carriers, cargo airlines and related businesses operating across the global transportation community, we represent member companies dedicated to moving air cargo through the supply chain.
Our members include not only air forwarders, but truckers, airlines, warehouse operators and businesses delivering a range of supporting services including technology, training, compliance, insurance and legal, just to name a few industries.
From campaigning for better national infrastructure to opening discussions about carbon reductions and digitilization – AfA has promoted hundreds of its members and streamlined business models to continue the growing industry.
More information at airforwarders.org
Latest from Airforwarders Association
Download Files Here
Plain text Press Release
All formatting has been removed. Click on the text to select all and copy to your heart’s content!
Airforwarders Association warns against Transport Security Administration privatization
Executive Director’s keynote at CNS Partnership Conference warned reduced federal oversight could weaken aviation security and undermine lessons learned after September 11 2001
San Francisco, United States, Tuesday 19th June 2026: The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has warned against the Administration’s budget proposals to cut and privatize elements of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), arguing such changes risk undermining aviation security frameworks established after September 11 2001.
The warning was delivered by Brandon Fried in a keynote address to the CNS Partnership Conference in San Francisco today.
“The lessons of September 11 are clear, and the stakes are too high for failure,” said Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association.
“Any move to weaken federal oversight of passenger screening risks reintroducing vulnerabilities the system was designed to eliminate.”
Federalization of passenger screening under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act came as a direct response to systemic weaknesses exposed prior to September 11, when outsourced security contracts often prioritized cost over effectiveness.
Fried argued freight forwarders built an effective government and industry security model through the Known Shipper program, Certified Cargo Screening Program, and Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS).
They allow certified operators to screen cargo before it reaches airports and submit advance data before departure, while TSA, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and industry maintain national standards and accountability.
The AfA said this model should not be used to justify passenger screening privatization, where fragmented procurement and contracts driven by cost were among the weaknesses federalization was designed to address.
“The air cargo industry has shown that public-private partnerships can work, but only when there is strong federal oversight setting the standards and enforcing compliance,” added Fried.
“Applying this model to passenger screening without strict TSA oversight would significantly increase risk.”
The Association called on policymakers to reject proposals that would privatize passenger screening functions and instead maintain and strengthen TSA authority to ensure consistent, nationwide aviation security standards.
Latest from Airforwarders Association
About the Airforwarders Association
The Airforwarders Association (AfA) represents hundreds of U.S companies dedicated to moving cargo through the supply chain on all modes of transport.
AfA has been supporting member companies of all sizes for 35 years, acting as the voice of the industry and lobbying legislators to help drive sustainable practices and ensure resilient, safe, secure supply chains.
As an alliance of indirect air carriers, cargo airlines and related businesses operating across the global transportation community, we represent member companies dedicated to moving air cargo through the supply chain.
Our members include not only air forwarders, but truckers, airlines, warehouse operators and businesses delivering a range of supporting services including technology, training, compliance, insurance and legal, just to name a few industries.
From campaigning for better national infrastructure to opening discussions about carbon reductions and digitilization – AfA has promoted hundreds of its members and streamlined business models to continue the growing industry.
More information at airforwarders.org