Congress locks airline security fees into TSA, blocks deficit raids

What it does

This bill creates a dedicated Transportation Security Trust Fund that collects the $5.60 per-flight passenger security fee (the '9/11 Security Fee') and locks it exclusively for TSA operations—salaries, screening equipment, training, and airport security infrastructure. Currently, Congress can divert these fees to reduce the federal deficit or fund other programs. The bill also ensures TSA can continue operating during government shutdowns by making the fund available without waiting for a new appropriations bill. In short: passenger security fees stay with TSA, not the general Treasury, and TSA keeps running even if Congress fails to pass a budget.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core mechanism is a dedicated revenue trust fund that prevents diversion of passenger security fees and ensures TSA operational continuity. This is straightforward public-safety funding reform, not a tax change, subsidy, or deregulation.

What the text implies

• Removes Congress's ability to use passenger security fees for deficit reduction—a revenue source that has historically been raided for other purposes. This constrains future budget flexibility but protects the dedicated purpose.
• Automatic TSA funding during shutdowns may reduce political leverage in budget negotiations, as TSA operations no longer create immediate pressure to pass appropriations.
• The bill prioritizes TSA personnel compensation and staffing before technology/infrastructure spending, which may slow modernization of screening systems if the fund is tight.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Ordinary travelers and the flying public gain direct protection: their security fees are guaranteed to fund the security operations they pay for, rather than being diverted to deficit reduction or other uses. TSA continuity during shutdowns protects both security and workers' paychecks. The restriction on diversion is an accountability measure that prevents government misuse of dedicated revenue.

Who stands to gain

• Transportation Security Administration (federal agency)
• TSA personnel (salary and benefits protection)
• Airport operators (eligible for security technology grants)

Named in the bill

Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 49 USC Section 44940 (9/11 Security Fee), 49 USC Section 44923 (Aviation Security Capital Fund), U.S. Congress

Where it stands

11 cosponsors: 11 Republicans.

• Mar 16, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Mar 16, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Homeland Security · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

1 lobbying clients named this bill on 1 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $360,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 17 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 0% of bills with at least one filing.

Nicholas Langworthy, the sponsor, reported $1,046,611 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle. $18,500 of that came from 3 PACs tied to these lobbying clients.

• Southwest Airlines — $360,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 18, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.