Sponsors (12)
The bill ensures continuous aviation security operations and more reliable, long‑term funding for screening and modernization, at the cost of reducing annual congressional appropriation control and some budgetary flexibility over aviation fee revenues.
Transportation workers and air passengers will keep checkpoint screening and TSA operations running during an appropriations lapse because TSA can continue paying Transportation Security Officers and staff.
Airports, local governments, and travelers gain more reliable, dedicated funding for checkpoint and baggage screening technology, grants for airport modernization, and multi‑year procurement/deployment of screening systems.
Taxpayers and airports are protected from fee revenues being diverted to the Treasury general fund, keeping Aviation Security Fee revenues available for aviation security purposes.
Passengers and taxpayers will face reduced congressional oversight because fee revenues become available without further annual appropriation decisions.
Congress loses flexibility to reallocate fee revenues to other priorities during budget shortfalls, which could constrain broader fiscal management.
Making funds available at prior‑year rates during an appropriations lapse could constrain TSA's ability to change or scale programs mid‑year if needs increase.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a TSA Transportation Security Trust Fund for 9/11 fee receipts, makes them available without appropriation, prioritizes TSO pay/ops during lapses, and establishes a tech/infrastructure account.
Creates a Transportation Security Trust Fund in the Department of Homeland Security to capture amounts collected from the statutory “9/11 Security Fee” and makes those amounts available to TSA without further appropriation. During an appropriations lapse the Fund may be used to continue aviation security operations with a legally ordered priority that first covers Transportation Security Officer (TSO) pay, benefits, overtime, and staffing-related operational costs, then procurement and infrastructure. Also establishes an Aviation Security Technology and Infrastructure Account inside the Fund for modernization and airport grants; those account funds are available until expended but can only be used after personnel and core operational needs are met under the lapse-priority rule.
Official title: To ensure the passenger security fee paid by airline passengers is used exclusively for aviation security, establish a Transportation Security Trust Fund to support the operations and personnel of the Transportation Security Administration, and ensure continuity of aviation security operations during a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 16, 2026 by Nicholas A. Langworthy · Last progress March 16, 2026