Why do some U.S. airports have private security, but others use TSA?

Transportation security officers stand at the main security checkpoint at Kansas City International Airport in Kansas City, Mo., on June 3. Arin Yoon for NPR hide caption toggle caption Arin Yoon for NPR KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If you've traveled by plane, you can probably picture this scene: Passengers line up to present their IDs to an airport officer, put their carry-on luggage on a conveyor belt and walk through a scanner. But one detail at Kansas City International Airport is a bit unique. The uniformed officers who scan IDs and screen carry-on bags wear badges and U.S. flag patches, but they're not Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers — they're private contractors. It's a distinction many passengers don't seem to notice. "It's news to me," said Natasha Greenway, holding the handle of her son's stroller before catching a flight to Philadelphia. "I didn't even notice," says Kim Eckels, who was traveling to Portland, Ore., with her family. With a laugh, she added, "I taught my kids not to question anything going through security. Just keep your mouth shut and go." That attitude is shared by many travelers, who can be forgiven for not realizing that the officers politely but firmly guiding them through the screening process work not for the government but for VMD Corp., based in McLean, Virginia. …