Shorter TSA lines at the airport?

CLEVELAND - For thousands of people who fly the friendly skies, the airport security lines are about to speed up.

On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration are expected to announce the expansion ofan expedited prescreening program.

That prescreening security, called TSA-pre, means some frequent fliers can skip the hassle of kicking off their shoes before going through airport security if they provide the government with personal information ahead of time.

To date, eligible participants in TSA’s so-called “TSA-Pre” include certain frequent flyers from American Airlines and Delta Air Lines as well as existing members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs.

TSA-pre was approved at a few airports earlier this month but will expand to checkpoints throughout the country. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the move comes after much debate and argues random security screenings are still essential to combat the continuing terrorist threat over the commercial aviation system.

“TSA gets a lot of pressure,” Napolitano conceded in remarks at the National Press Club in early February.

While talks continue to push security from intrusive, across-the-board checking to more intelligence-driven screenings, there's another potential security question in the mix: Should private security companies have a greater role in keeping you safe at airports?

That question was the focus of a hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

Last year, the TSA decided not to expand a program that uses private contractors instead of TSA agents to man airport checkpoints.

Lawmakers who agree with the TSA’s decision say it's in the best interest of the nation's safety.

Supporters of the screening partnership program say it's good for job creation and helps reduce the TSA’s inefficiency and bureaucracy.

Sixteen airports currently participate in the program.