Economic Discrimination In Airports

During my trip to Arizona and back, I finally realized that there is economic discrimination in US airport security lines. At Chicago's O'Hare airport, Tucson International, and Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport there are separate security lines for first class passengers.

Now, I understand that a first class ticket costs more, thus the purchaser gets more. They get seated first, "free" alcoholic drinks, food, the ability to get off the plane first, etc. But should the holder of a first class ticket be ahead of anyone else going through security?

The way I understand airport security (and I could be wrong) is that every ticket holder pays a security fee per flight. Its a tax. One that funds the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). A public program where I pay the same amount as a first class passenger to be "safe" yet they get to go first. And I stand in line for 1-3 hrs more, potentially missing my flight even though I was at the airport more than 2 hrs before my flight.

When I searched the TSA's website for the term "first class" , no results came up. The website also describes that the TSA is funded by the security fees paid by travelers (and other congressional funding).

Does anyone have a rational explanation for this? Have I misunderstood the TSA program?