House Republicans urge White House to support TSA giving travelers temperature checks

Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and several other Republican members of Congress are calling for the White House to support a new policy that would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to check the temperatures of all airline passengers at security checkpoints.

Budd led a letter to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Wednesday asking for support for this temporary policy. 

“Having TSA temporarily screen passengers for elevated temperatures, while ensuring that travelers with unrelated medical issues causing elevated temperatures can still travel, has a number of practical advantages,” they wrote.

They said temperature checks would provide a disincentive to travel for people who know they may be sick and give an extra layer of protection to increase the safety of air travel as well as traveler confidence. They also said temperature checks would be a helpful addition to the TSA’s toolkit for preparedness for any future pandemics.

The letter was signed by Republican Reps. Bill Posey (Fla.), Denver Riggleman (Va.), Andy Harris (Md.), Chip Roy (Texas), Dan Bishop (N.C.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Ted Yoho (Fla.), David Schweikert (Ariz.), Randy Weber (Texas), Jody Hice (Ga.), and Michael Cloud (Texas). 

However, TSA Administrator David Pekoske defended the federal government’s decision not to take passengers’ temperatures at checkpoints on Tuesday.

“Temperature checks are not a guarantee that passengers that don’t have an elevated temperature don’t have COVID-19,” Pekoske said.

He added, though, that no decision has been made on whether the government will conduct temperature checks, echoing previous statements from the agency.

Airlines for America, which represents and advocates for major U.S. airlines, has requested the temperature check policy.

The advocacy group announced on Monday that major airlines will start requiring passengers to complete a health acknowledgment form during check-in for a flight, which encourages passengers to evaluate their own health before traveling. 

The form asks the passenger if they are experiencing coronavirus symptoms, including a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.