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The phrase Americans forced to work standing up is about more than sore feet. It has become a question of respect at work after the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) ordered chairs removed from airport checkpoints where officers check passengers’ IDs. The agency says standing helps keep officers alert and supports security. The union representing TSA workers calls chairs “basic ergonomic and safety support” for people who stand and walk on hard floors for hours.
The contrast with the president’s seated desk is hard to miss: in some workplaces, sitting is normal; in others, it is treated as laziness. The question is why a chair is seen as unprofessional when a task may allow sitting.
The numbers show who spends the day on their feet
US Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2025 found that workers spent an average of 55.1% of the workday standing, walking or in low postures. But the gap between jobs was striking. Software developers spent 97.1% of their day sitting, while waiters and waitresses spent 98.6% standing; bakers spent 98.9% standing. These figures describe job requirements, not how much choice every worker has.
For TSA officers, the rule means checking passengers’ IDs while standing. The agency says the change will reinforce its “security posture” and create a professional, welcoming experience. But the workers’ union argues that removing chairs without consultation dismisses basic safety and comfort. A chair does not replace training or attention; it can be part of a safer workstation when the task permits it.
Standing all day has a real cost
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the CDC has looked at the research on the association of prolonged standing with low back pain, muscle pain, fatigue and leg swelling. It states that the risks can be mitigated by changing one’s posture and moving around. Being able to sit, stand and then walk is a health benefit, and not an advantage.
TSA pressure is on more than just chairs. In spring 2026, 50,000 TSA employees were furloughed without pay, and the airport security lines were severely disrupted during the government shutdown, Reuters reported.
The bigger question, however, is easy to ask: What does professionalism look like? Workers must have safe conditions, breaks and equipment when standing if this is a part of a job. Staff sitting should not be confused with weakness if this is not necessary. The size of a chair is a matter of comfort, but workplace regulations will show which ones are valued and which are tolerated as part of the uniform.
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