Comment by crazygringo
2 days ago
It's just federal law.
Cities don't own restaurants either but can fine them and close them if health inspections fail, because there's a law for that.
The legal basis is the federal laws written specifically around airport security.
I think the question here is, which laws?
LMGTFY: Aviation and Transportation Security Act
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-107publ71/html/PLAW...
The confusion in this thread shows me that even here, no one understands even the question, let alone the answer.