BusinessMar 25, 2026

TSA’s Security Chaos Is Quietly Turning Into Tailwinds for Clear Secure

clear secure

transportation security administration

biometric

Rhea Lobo

The TSA’s staffing meltdown has turned into Clear’s SecureYOU

best ad campaign yet. As federal workers missed paychecks and officers called in sick, security lines stretched past an hour — sending frustrated travelers to Clear. App downloads hit 289K since early March, more than triple last year’s pace, per WSJ, citing Sensor Tower data. The stock followed, jumping ~60% in a month.

Clear Plus ($209/year) is converting on the spot, with some TSA PreCheck users ditching JFK lines to sign up after seeing Clear members get through in under 10 minutes.
Beyond airports, Clear1 is gaining traction with record bookings, new CMS contracts, and an integration with Epic’s major medical-record platform.

The line monopoly: Clear isn’t immune to the chaos fueling its growth. Members faced hour-long waits in New Orleans, and at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental, both Clear and TSA PreCheck lanes shut down. Still, EVP Kyle McLaughlin said the company is working to support travelers and stakeholders. With biometric eGates now live at 38 airports and more expansion coming, Clear is trying to become the system you can’t route around.