( CNN ) -- The Transportation Security Administration on Tuesday unveiled a `` trusted traveler '' program -- one meant to expedite screening at U.S. airport checkpoints , agency chief John Pistole said . `` As with any initiative , we are testing this prescreening concept with a small passenger population at limited airports , '' he said at an aviation security conference in the Netherlands . `` If proven successful , we will explore expanding the program to additional travelers , airports and airlines . '' All participants must be U.S. citizens who voluntarily release certain information about themselves . During its evaluation phase , TSA PreCheck will be available only to certain frequent fliers on American and Delta airlines flying out of certain airports . Delta passengers must be flying out of Atlanta and Detroit airports , and American Airlines passengers must be flying out of Miami and Dallas airports . It was opened to participants in Custom and Border Protection 's Trusted Traveler programs , including Global Entry , SENTRI , and NEXUS . `` As TSA moves further away from a one-size-fits-all approach , our ultimate goal is provide the most effective security in the most efficient way possible , '' said Christopher McLaughlin , TSA assistant administrator of security operations . The program wo n't guarantee expedited security screening , according to Pistole , who said participants would still be subject to `` random and unpredictable security measures . '' In July , the TSA said it would expand this pilot program to include United , Southwest , JetBlue , US Airways , Alaska and Hawaiian airlines , and additional airports , once operationally ready . Currently , the TSA vets passenger lists against `` watch lists '' of known or suspected terrorists . But the TSA is working with a very limited amount of information about those passengers -- namely a person 's full name , date of birth and gender . Under trusted traveler programs , travelers voluntarily surrender more information about themselves , giving the government more assurances of who they are . The amount and nature of the information that will be sought were not disclosed . There have long been calls for the TSA to adopt a trusted traveler program . Congress and critics have stepped up that demand following two highly publicized incidents , one involving the search of a 6-year-old girl , and the other involving a 95-year-old cancer patient . In both cases , the TSA has said the airport screeners were following established protocols . But the TSA also has said it is working toward a `` risk-based '' trusted traveler program that could expedite travel for people believed to present little risk to aviation . The TSA said in July that Pistole will work with Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin and the airlines to determine passenger eligibility for this screening project , which is voluntary . All passengers in the pilot project will be subject to recurrent security checks . Security experts have long expressed concern about so-called clean skins -- potential terrorists who enroll in trusted traveler programs to avoid scrutiny during a terror mission . But the TSA says it will continue to incorporate random and unpredictable security measures to address such concerns . Pistole said in July that other layers of security will remain in place , including intelligence gathering and analysis , explosive-detection canine teams , federal air marshals , closed-circuit television monitoring and behavior detection officers . CNN 's Mike M. Ahlers contributed to this report .
NEW : TSA officials say the program is meant to balance security with efficiency . The program would be expanded to other airlines over time . All participants must be U.S. citizens . The pilot project will start with Delta and American airlines .