HR 8770: SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026

HR 8770 in plain English: The SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026 redirects more passenger aviation security fees to fund TSA airport security upgrades. Starting in fiscal year 2028, it doubles the required deposit into the Aviation Security Capital Fund from $250 million to $500 million per year, and creates a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund receiving an additional $250 million per year from those same fees.

Stated purpose

The bill aims to direct more money collected from airline passenger security fees toward actually upgrading aviation security equipment, including checked baggage explosives detection systems and checkpoint screening technology, rather than sending most of that money to general debt reduction.

Key points

• Doubles annual deposits into the Aviation Security Capital Fund from $250 million to $500 million starting in fiscal year 2028.
• Creates a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund receiving $250 million per year from passenger security fees.
• Capital Fund money pays for checked baggage explosives detection equipment and in-line baggage screening systems.
• New Checkpoint Technology Fund covers acquiring, installing, and maintaining airport security checkpoint technology.
• Funding comes from the existing passenger civil aviation security service fee, commonly called the 9/11 security fee.

Arguments supporters make

• Passengers pay this fee specifically for aviation security, so the money should actually be spent on security equipment rather than diverted to general debt reduction.
• Upgrading aging baggage screening and checkpoint technology makes air travel safer for everyone by improving the ability to detect explosives and other threats.
• Dedicating a stable, predictable stream of funding helps TSA plan and carry out long-term equipment upgrades instead of relying on uncertain annual appropriations.

Arguments opponents make

• Redirecting up to $750 million a year away from debt reduction increases the federal deficit or forces cuts elsewhere, shifting a financial burden onto the broader public.
• Congress already controls TSA funding through the normal budget process; locking fees into dedicated funds reduces flexibility to respond to changing priorities or emergencies.
• There is no guarantee that more money alone will result in effective security improvements if procurement, installation, and management of new technology are not also reformed.

Tradeoffs

Dedicating more fee revenue to aviation security equipment means less money applied to federal debt each year, trading a fiscal benefit for a security investment; the bill prioritizes the original stated intent of the fee over its current role in deficit reduction.

Current status in Congress: Passed House.

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