Pay TSA Act of 2026

Direct 9/11 fee to TSA

If enacted, the bill would create a Transportation Security Trust Fund at DHS to hold fees collected under the 9/11 Security Fee. Money in the fund would be available to the TSA Administrator without yearly appropriation and without fiscal year limits. The bill would restrict fund use to aviation security, including salaries, benefits, training, passenger and baggage screening, checkpoint technology, airport security equipment, and R&D. During any lapse in annual appropriations, the fund (and the Aviation Security Capital Fund) would pay frontline TSA personnel and screening operations first, then technology, maintenance, and grants, subject to a limit on operations at last year’s rate. The bill would also create an Aviation Security Technology and Infrastructure Account and would repeal prior law that let Treasury divert 9/11 fee receipts away from aviation security.