Every time a passenger buys an airline ticket, they pay a $5.60 September 11th Security Fee. The fee exists for one reason: to fund the aviation security system that keeps travelers safe. But for more than a decade, a growing share of that money has gone somewhere else entirely.
Since 2014, Congress has diverted more than $13 billion in passenger security fee revenue into the general fund of the U.S. Treasury, using it to offset unrelated federal spending rather than the aviation security operations it was designed to support. Current law allows this practice to continue through 2027. The math here isn’t complicated. Passengers pay a security fee expecting it to fund security. When a portion of that revenue is redirected elsewhere, travelers are effectively paying twice: once through the fee itself, and again through general tax dollars that continue to fund TSA operations regardless.
Both the Biden and Trump administrations recognized this problem and have proposed ending the deficit-reduction transfers. Airports across the country continue to urge Congress to finish the job by passing the SAFEGUARDS Act (H.R. 8770/S. 2378)
Faster Screening, Stronger Security
TSA’s screening technology must keep pace with passenger volumes and evolving threats, but current procurement timelines delay full deployment of critical equipment until the 2040s. The SAFEGUARDS Act changes that, and, for airports, the benefits would be direct.
In addition to ending the fee diversion, the bill would increase annual funding for the Aviation Security Capital Fund from $250 million to $450 million to modernize checked baggage screening. It would also create a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund, providing $400 million annually for computed tomography scanners, advanced imaging technology, explosives trace detection systems, credential authentication technology, and automated exit lanes. Just as important, the bill would provide the stable, dedicated funding airports need to plan for future security investments.
A recent series of government shutdowns has highlighted the need for stable and predictable federal funding for aviation security. Airports rely upon federal partners to invest in the newest and most effective technology on reasonable timelines, which is why the SAFEGUARDS Act is so important.
Industry and Congress Agree
The bill has earned support on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers. The Senate Commerce Committee approved its version of the SAFEGUARDS Act (S. 2378) by voice vote in April, and the House Homeland Security Committee followed with a 26-3 vote in June. The House of Representatives then passed its version of the legislation (H.R. 8770) without objection in July. The bill has also drawn support from across the aviation and travel industries, with ACI-NA, AAAE, Airlines for America, and the U.S. Travel Association all helping to craft and endorsing the SAFEGUARDS Act — a signal that airports, airlines, and travelers alike see the value in getting this right.
Passengers are already paying for aviation security modernization. The SAFEGUARDS Act simply ensures that user fees reach the screening technology and infrastructure they were intended to fund, rather than being absorbed into unrelated spending. ACI-NA is grateful for the leadership of bill sponsors Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Representative Dale Strong (R-AL) to bolster our country’s aviation security posture. We urge the Senate to give final passage to the SAFEGUARDS Act.