Sponsor
Nellie Pou
Representative · D-NJ
Representative · D-NJ
The bill secures higher, more predictable pay and short-term protections for Transportation Security Officers—improving retention and preventing immediate service disruptions—but does so by increasing near-term and ongoing federal personnel spending and reducing budget flexibility for agencies and Congress.
Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) will get uninterrupted pay during a potential FY2026 funding gap and a one-time $10,000 bonus, preventing immediate income disruption for airport security workers.
All TSOs will have a minimum salary floor of $40,000 in FY2026 with automatic CPI-U-linked annual increases thereafter, boosting baseline pay and preserving purchasing power over time.
Higher and more predictable TSO pay is likely to improve workforce retention and staffing continuity at airports, which can enhance traveler safety and reduce service disruptions.
Taxpayers face higher near-term and ongoing federal personnel costs because of the $10,000 bonuses, interim pay protections, the $40,000 salary floor, and CPI-indexed raises.
Automatic CPI-U indexing of TSO pay can lock in rising personnel expenditures during periods of high inflation, reducing budget flexibility for TSA/DHS and federal budgeting overall.
Extending funding availability through Sept 30, 2026 may reduce Congressional urgency to resolve longer-term appropriations or policy issues, potentially delaying oversight or necessary reforms.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Sets a $40,000 TSO minimum salary for FY2026, requires CPI-U annual increases thereafter, and funds a one-time $10,000 bonus for TSOs employed Feb 14, 2026.
Official title: Making continuing appropriations for essential Transportation Security Administration pay and operations during the lapse in appropriations beginning on February 14, 2026, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 19, 2026 by Nellie Pou · Last progress May 19, 2026
Requires the TSA Administrator to set a minimum annual salary for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) at $40,000 for FY2026 and then annually adjust that minimum each October 1 to reflect CPI-U inflation (with a small‑increase ignore rule). Provides appropriations authority to maintain regular TSA pay and benefits and to pay a one-time $10,000 bonus to each TSO employed and working as of February 14, 2026. Makes the appropriations authority temporary and effective retroactively to February 13, 2026.