Private companies would be in charge of airport security instead of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration under a bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.

Alabama’s senior senator called the TSA “an inefficient bureaucratic mess” while announcing Thursday the introduction of the Abolish TSA Act with Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

“The TSA has become an inefficient, bureaucratic mess that infringes on Americans’ freedoms and wastes taxpayer money,” said Tuberville in a statement.

“It’s a bloated agency that offers minimal security benefits while causing unnecessary delays and frustration for travelers. We need to focus on smarter, more effective methods to protect our country without sacrificing the liberties that make America great. The TSA should be eliminated and replaced with more targeted, streamlined, and accountable solutions.”

Under the bill, the TSA would be abolished three years after the legislation’s enactment — a time period Tuberville and Lee said would allow for privatization and the repeal or transfer of additional authorities.

Within 90 days of the bill becoming law, the secretary of Homeland Security along with the transportation secretary will submit a reorganization plan to Congress that includes:

 • Creation of the Office of Aviation Security Oversight within the FAA, solely responsible for overseeing the privatization of aviation security screening.

• Rapid transfer of security activities and equipment to qualified private companies.

• Transfer of non-aviation security functions to DOT (mass transit, freight rail, pipelines, etc.).

• Proportional reductions of TSA operations and personnel to facilitate transfer of duties.

The reorganization plan cannot include requirements for private security companies to conduct warrantless searches and seizures or extend the TSA’s existence, according to Tuberville’s office.

Congress will consider, amend, vote up or down on the reorganization plan through expedited and privileged procedure, the senator’s office stated. Compliance will be monitored by the General Accounting Office and regular reports to Congress.

“The TSA has not only intruded into the privacy and personal space of most Americans, it has also repeatedly failed tests to find weapons and explosives,” said Sen. Lee. “Our bill privatizes security functions at American airports under the eye of an Office of Aviation Security Oversight, bringing this bureaucratic behemoth to a welcome end. American families can travel safely without feeling the hands of an army of federal employees.”

Gutting or abolishing government agencies have been popular policies among Republicans, who believe the federal government is too large.

President Donald Trump has instructed Education Secretary Linda McMahon to abolish that agency, while the Department of Government Efficiency has been seeking ways to limit government and reduce fraud and waste.