Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73

§44929 Donation of screening equipment to protect the United States

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VII— - AVIATION PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › Subpart subpart iii— - safety › Chapter CHAPTER 449— - SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - REQUIREMENTS › § 44929

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administrator may donate airport screening machines to the operator of a foreign airport that is the last point of departure if the machines can reasonably reduce a specific security risk to the United States or its citizens. Before donating, the Administrator must restore the machines to normal commercial settings, remove any TSA-only standards or algorithms, and confirm the recipient can operate and maintain the machines and can document and track any removal or disposal so terrorists cannot get them. Not later than 30 days before a donation, the Administrator must send a written report to three Congressional committees—the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and the House Committee on Homeland Security—covering six things: the specific vulnerability, why the recipient cannot or will not buy the equipment, an evacuation plan for sensitive technologies, how the equipment will be used and maintained over its life, the total dollar value, and how removal or disposal will be documented and tracked to prevent terrorist access.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §44929

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Subject to subsection (b), the Administrator is authorized to donate security screening equipment to a foreign last point of departure airport operator if such equipment can be reasonably expected to mitigate a specific vulnerability to the security of the United States or United States citizens.

(b)Before donating any security screening equipment to a foreign last point of departure airport operator the Administrator shall—

(1)ensure that the screening equipment has been restored to commercially available settings;

(2)ensure that no TSA-specific security standards or algorithms exist on the screening equipment; and

(3)verify that the appropriate officials have an adequate system—

(A)to properly maintain and operate the screening equipment; and

(B)to document and track any removal or disposal of the screening equipment to ensure the screening equipment does not come into the possession of terrorists or otherwise pose a risk to security.

(c)Not later than 30 days before any donation of security screening equipment under subsection (a), the Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a detailed written explanation of the following:

(1)The specific vulnerability to the United States or United States citizens that will be mitigated by such donation.

(2)An explanation as to why the recipient of such donation is unable or unwilling to purchase security screening equipment to mitigate such vulnerability.

(3)An evacuation plan for sensitive technologies in case of emergency or instability in the country to which such donation is being made.

(4)How the Administrator will ensure the security screening equipment that is being donated is used and maintained over the course of its life by the recipient.

(5)The total dollar value of such donation.

(6)How the appropriate officials will document and track any removal or disposal of the screening equipment by the recipient to ensure the screening equipment does not come into the possession of terrorists or otherwise pose a risk to security.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 44929

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73