Under the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) new initiative, Serve With Honor, Travel With Ease, this will change. This program is to enhance the travel experience of traveling military members and their families. This pilot program will be rolled out at a number of participating airports, beginning with those airports nearest to military bases. The first Honor Lane was dedicated at Nashville International Airport on July 17, 2025.
This new lane is designed to give active duty military and veterans dedicated security screening. Most importantly, it provides peace of mind that they and their families—including service members home on leave—can get through TSA checkpoints quickly. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, one of the strongest proponents of this program, highlighted the importance of this program at the launch event at Nashville International Airport.
“What that honor lane does is it implements a new policy that we’re going to be putting across the country at all TSA security check lanes that honors our military men and women,” said Noem.
Through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is backing Gold Star families. So they decided to start permitting these families to apply for TSA PreCheck free of charge. This common sense measure would go a long way to make the journey less painful for those families who have lost a service member. Additionally, DHS is providing a $25 discount on PreCheck enrollment for all military spouses, in gratitude for their service and sacrifice.
“These tokens of gratitude are just a small amount of what we can do in this country to honor those who serve in our military, but them and their families, and recognize their sacrifice,” Noem remarked.
The first permanent rollout of the Honor Lane at Nashville International Airport sets an exciting precedent. We believe this initiative will encourage similar installations at other airports nationwide, particularly in areas with significant military populations. The TSA expects this new initiative will dramatically improve the travel experience for thousands of military families each year.
