Make American Travel Great Again: A Policy to Restore Freedom, Privacy, and Safety in Air Travel
The freedom to travel is a fundamental right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Over time, air travel has become increasingly burdensome and invasive. We believe it is time to reform the air travel industry to restore American freedoms, ensure the safety and well-being of travelers, and reduce unnecessary government overreach. This policy outlines the actions needed to make air travel more accessible, less intrusive, and more respectful of the American taxpayer.
Key Policy Objectives
1. End the Real ID Mandate
The Real ID Act, which mandates that Americans carry a federalized form of identification to board domestic flights, infringes on personal freedoms and privacy. We will end the implementation of Real ID at airports and restore the right for Americans to travel freely without government-mandated identification. The Constitution guarantees the right to travel without undue restriction, and we will ensure that right is upheld by repealing this unnecessary mandate.
2. Ban Facial Recognition Technology at Airports
Facial recognition technology, widely used in airports, violates privacy and civil liberties by subjecting American citizens to intrusive surveillance. We will implement a nationwide ban on the use of facial recognition technology in all airport security systems and processes. Americans should not be treated as suspects in a surveillance state merely for exercising their right to travel.
3. Reduce the Power and Scope of the TSA
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has grown into an unaccountable and overreaching bureaucracy. We will reduce the TSA’s scope of authority, eliminating invasive screening procedures, and restoring the principle that air travel should be as efficient and non-intrusive as possible. We will advocate for better-trained private security contractors, focused on actual threats, rather than employing blanket security measures that treat all passengers as potential criminals.
4. Address Health Risks of Airport Security Scanners
The use of full-body scanners in airports exposes travelers to unnecessary radiation. While there is ongoing debate regarding the long-term health risks, it is clear that these scanners are not without potential harm. We will work to significantly reduce or eliminate the use of these scanners, promoting the use of less invasive and lower-risk alternatives. A balance must be struck between safety and public health, and we will ensure that airport security does not come at the cost of travelers’ health.
5. Airline Industry Reform: Respect for Taxpayers
American taxpayers subsidize the airline industry to the tune of billions of dollars in various forms, including tax breaks, bailouts, and infrastructure funding. These subsidies are intended to support the industry and ensure its profitability. In return, airline companies must recognize their responsibility to the people who fund them. We will implement policies requiring airlines to treat customers with dignity and respect, including eliminating hidden fees, improving customer service, and providing better compensation for delays and cancellations. The people who support the industry deserve a better travel experience.
6. Restoration of Constitutional Travel Rights
The right to travel is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution as part of the broader principles of freedom and liberty. Air travel should not be a privilege, but a right for every American citizen. We will eliminate policies that create undue barriers to travel, from overreaching identification requirements to invasive security measures. We will ensure that any regulations introduced are grounded in the principles of privacy, liberty, and minimal government intervention.
Conclusion
The time has come to restore the American right to travel without fear, without unnecessary obstacles, and without compromising fundamental rights. Through these reforms, we will make air travel safer, more respectful of personal freedoms, and more accountable to the American people. By reducing the power of the TSA, ending invasive security measures, and holding airlines accountable, we will build an air travel system that truly serves the people who fund it. Let’s Make American Travel Great Again.
