The Pay TSA Act of 2026 directs the federal government to use airline passenger security fees exclusively for aviation security purposes rather than allowing those fees to be diverted to other government programs. The bill creates a dedicated Transportation Security Trust Fund within the Department of Homeland Security, where the 9/11 Security Fee collected from airline passengers will be deposited and made automatically available to the TSA without requiring annual congressional appropriations. The money can be used for TSA employee salaries and benefits, passenger and baggage screening operations, security technology, airport infrastructure, and research on advanced security systems. A key provision ensures the TSA can continue operating during government shutdowns or lapses in appropriations by tapping this fund, with priority given to maintaining TSA officer salaries and staffing levels needed for airport security operations. The bill also establishes a separate Aviation Security Technology and Infrastructure Account within the fund to support modernization of screening equipment and airport security systems, but only after personnel and operational costs are fully covered.
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