S 2378: SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026

S 2378 in plain English: The SAFEGUARDS Act would redirect more of the passenger security fees collected by TSA toward aviation security equipment. Starting in fiscal year 2026, the bill increases the required annual deposit into the Aviation Security Capital Fund from $250 million to $500 million for baggage screening systems, and creates a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund receiving the next $250 million annually for checkpoint and exit lane security technology.

Stated purpose

The bill aims to direct more money from the fees airline passengers already pay for aviation security toward upgrading airport baggage screening equipment and security checkpoint technology. It doubles the amount going to baggage screening funds and creates a new dedicated fund for checkpoint and exit lane technology upgrades.

Key points

• Doubles the required annual deposit into the Aviation Security Capital Fund from $250 million to $500 million starting in FY 2026.
• Creates a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund receiving $250 million per year from passenger security fees.
• Funds can be used for baggage explosives detection equipment and checkpoint technology, including projects dating back to January 1, 2023.
• Passenger security fees that previously went largely to debt reduction would instead be directed to these aviation security funds.

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 and helps TSA catch threats more effectively.
• The bill has broad bipartisan support and addresses a real gap in dedicated funding for security infrastructure that has gone without sufficient investment.

Arguments opponents make

• Redirecting $750 million per year away from debt reduction increases the federal deficit burden, trading a long-term fiscal cost for a near-term spending priority.
• Critics may argue that TSA and Congress should first demonstrate that existing security funds are being spent efficiently before committing large additional dedicated streams of money.
• Locking fee revenue into specific funds reduces budget flexibility, potentially preventing dollars from being directed to whichever security need is most urgent at a given time.

Tradeoffs

More money goes to airport security upgrades, but that same money no longer reduces the national debt, so the benefit of improved security equipment comes at the cost of slower debt paydown. Dedicated funds give TSA reliable resources for technology but limit Congress's ability to reprioritize spending if circumstances change.

Current status in Congress: In committee.

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