Sponsors (12)
The bill secures continuous funding to keep TSA staff paid and checkpoints operating and to fund multi-year airport security upgrades, at the cost of reducing annual congressional appropriation control and some mid-year budget flexibility which may delay certain modernization choices.
Transportation security officers remain paid and checkpoints stay open during federal appropriations lapses, keeping passenger screening and airport operations functioning.
Airports and local governments gain stable, dedicated, and flexible funding for checkpoint and baggage screening technology and other airport security infrastructure, with Account funds allowed to remain available until expended to enable multi-year procurement and modernization grants.
Fee revenues are preserved for aviation security purposes rather than being diverted to the Treasury general fund, helping ensure user fees pay for the security services they fund.
Passengers and taxpayers face reduced congressional oversight and less fiscal flexibility because fee revenues become available without annual appropriation, making it harder for Congress to reallocate those funds during budget shortfalls or to exercise routine oversight.
Locking in availability of funds at prior-year rates and allowing spending during appropriations lapses could constrain TSA's ability to change or scale programs mid-year in response to evolving security needs.
Prioritizing personnel and operations funding over capital projects may delay airport modernization and the deployment of new screening technologies, slowing infrastructure upgrades.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs 9/11 Security Fee receipts into a DHS trust fund to keep TSA staffing and aviation security running during funding lapses and to fund screening tech and airport grants.
Introduced March 16, 2026 by Nicholas A. Langworthy · Last progress March 16, 2026
Creates a DHS trust fund to collect fees currently charged under the 9/11 Security Fee and makes those receipts available to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) without further appropriations. The trust fund can be used to keep TSA aviation-security operations running during appropriations lapses—prioritizing pay, benefits, overtime, and staffing for Transportation Security Officers—then for procurement, infrastructure, and a dedicated account for screening technology and airport grants once personnel needs are met.