Sponsors (12)
Introduced March 16, 2026 by Nicholas A. Langworthy · Last progress March 16, 2026
The bill secures continuous, dedicated funding to keep TSA staffing and long-term aviation security investments stable, but it does so by reducing Congress's annual appropriations control and introducing fiscal transparency and flexibility trade-offs.
Transportation Security Officers and air travelers nationwide will see continued staffing and checkpoint operations during federal funding lapses because the bill prioritizes TSO salaries, benefits, and overtime and preserves funding for essential aviation security programs, reducing the risk of disrupted screening and travel delays.
Airports, TSA programs, and travelers will benefit from a dedicated 9/11 Security Fee trust account that permanently directs fee revenues to aviation security personnel, screening, technology, infrastructure, and R&D, with funds available until expended to enable longer-term investments and prevent diversion to the general fund.
Taxpayers and Congress will face reduced annual appropriations control because locking 9/11 Security Fee revenues into a dedicated trust fund limits congressional oversight and flexibility to reallocate those revenues to other transportation or broader security priorities.
Local governments, airport operators, and some TSA programs could experience cuts or deferred projects because lapse-period spending is limited to an operations rate no greater than the prior year, which can constrain resources despite changing needs.
Taxpayers and budget officials may see reduced fiscal transparency and more complicated deficit management because directing fees outside the regular appropriations process can obscure the full federal budget impact and limit flexible budget accounting.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Transportation Security Trust Fund to route 9/11 Security Fee revenue to TSA for personnel, screening, technology, infrastructure, and grants without further annual appropriation.
Creates a Transportation Security Trust Fund to collect 9/11 Security Fee receipts and makes those receipts immediately available to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for aviation security purposes without further annual appropriation. Funds are restricted to aviation security uses (personnel, screening operations, checkpoint technology, airport security infrastructure, R&D, and grants) and may not be transferred to the general fund or used for deficit reduction. During a lapse in regular appropriations, the trust fund (together with the Aviation Security Capital Fund) may be used without further appropriation to continue necessary aviation security programs, with priority to pay Transportation Security Officers’ salaries, benefits, overtime, and staffing; remaining funds may be used for screening technology, baggage equipment, maintenance/modernization, and airport grants. The measure also creates a dedicated account for technology and infrastructure investments that becomes available after personnel and operational needs are met.