Airline passengers already pay the 9/11 Security Fee on their tickets to help fund aviation security, but that money has sometimes been redirected to other federal spending instead. This bill declares that practice should stop by 2027 and, starting in fiscal year 2028, requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to set the fee so it collects at least $500 million a year for the existing Aviation Security Capital Fund, which pays for airport security equipment and grants. It also creates a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund and requires TSA to collect at least $250 million more each year for it, dedicated specifically to testing, buying, installing, and maintaining screening technology at checkpoints. Together, the two funds would guarantee at least $750 million a year in fee revenue goes toward aviation security rather than elsewhere in the federal budget. The changes affect airline passengers who pay the fee and TSA's technology budget, not the general public directly.
Transparency & Accountability
- 9/11 Security Fee earmarking — Revenue must fund aviation security instead of the general Treasury
Average Household Impact
- TSA passenger fee floor — At least $750M in annual fee revenue required for two funds starting FY2028
Congressional Summary
Spending Aviation Fees for Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety Act of 2026 or the SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026This bill allocates additional funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for aviation security, including checked baggage explosives detection equipment and security checkpoint technology.As background, TSA collects passenger civil aviation security service fees (often referred to as the 9/11 security fee or passenger security fee) on air carrier passengers originating at airports in the United States. In general, these fees are deposited into the Department of the Treasury general fund and applied towards debt reduction. A portion of these fees are allocated to TSA for aviation security.The bill requires that the first $500 million collected in each fiscal year from passenger security fees be deposited into the Aviation Security Capital Fund. This is an increase from the currently required $250 million. This fund provides for the costs associated with acquiring and installing in-line baggage screening systems (i.e., systems that use a conveyor belt infrastructure to automatically screen, sort, and track baggage) to accommodate checked baggage explosives detection equipment and for certain other airport security improvements.The bill also requires that the next $250 million collected in each fiscal year from passenger security fees be deposited into a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund for the costs associated with acquiring, installing, and sustaining aviation security checkpoint technology.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-05-12
- Date Added
- 2026-07-10
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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