Airport Alert: FY26 DHS Appropriations Report Released, More Good News for Airports
June 11, 2025
In advance of consideration of the fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by the full House Appropriations Committee tomorrow morning, the Committee released its FY26 report. On Monday night, Subcommittee members approved the FY26 DHS bill on a party-line vote of 8-4.
Overall, the bill recommends $66.36 billion for DHS and its component agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This funding level is about one percent above FY25. While much of the bill is focused on securing the southern border, removing dangerous criminals, and national security priorities, it includes funding for a number of critical airport priorities discussed in further detail below.
In total, the bill recommends $11.2 billion for TSA, which is $43.6 million above FY25 but $170 million below the FY26 request. The bill does not allocate all aviation security fees collected directly to TSA as requested by the administration. Instead, $1.6 billion continues to be diverted to pay for general deficit reduction. For appropriators to have access to these fees, Congress would first need to enact a legislative fix to end the fee diversion, which has not occurred.
Notable funding items contained in the bill include:
On Thursday, June 12, the House Appropriations Committee will consider the FY26 DHS appropriations bill. As compared to the Subcommittee’s consideration of the bill, this will be a more lengthy and contentious process.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet announced plans to begin considering the FY26 budget request.
Links:
In advance of consideration of the fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by the full House Appropriations Committee tomorrow morning, the Committee released its FY26 report. On Monday night, Subcommittee members approved the FY26 DHS bill on a party-line vote of 8-4.
Overall, the bill recommends $66.36 billion for DHS and its component agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This funding level is about one percent above FY25. While much of the bill is focused on securing the southern border, removing dangerous criminals, and national security priorities, it includes funding for a number of critical airport priorities discussed in further detail below.
Transportation Security Administration
In total, the bill recommends $11.2 billion for TSA, which is $43.6 million above FY25 but $170 million below the FY26 request. The bill does not allocate all aviation security fees collected directly to TSA as requested by the administration. Instead, $1.6 billion continues to be diverted to pay for general deficit reduction. For appropriators to have access to these fees, Congress would first need to enact a legislative fix to end the fee diversion, which has not occurred.
Notable funding items contained in the bill include:
- $100 million to continue TSA staffing at certain exit lanes, rejecting the administration’s proposal to shift these costs to airports.
- $45.1 million to restore funding for the Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Reimbursement Program. Funding for this program was eliminated in FY24, but strong advocacy from impacted airports and AAAE successfully swayed the subcommittee to provide funding for these LEO grants in FY26
- $213 million for computed tomography systems to screen carry-on baggage at passenger checkpoints, $175 million above the FY25 level and similar to the amount requested by the administration. The report highlights that the changes to TSA’s pay structure caused a “dramatic increase to the agency’s budget, which have continued to come at the expense of other priorities”. The $213 million for checkpoint security infrastructure “restores some of the cuts that were necessary to fund the agency’s pay structure change.”
- $13.9 million to complete the process of reimbursing airports for the cost of in-line baggage screening systems installed prior to December 31, 2007.
- $20 million to support TSA efforts “to interconnect airports and the use of the TSA cloud environment to facilitate remote screening technologies.”
- $10 million for credential authentication technology.
- Eliminates funding for the Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams, consistent with the budget request and the FY25 Committee recommendation.
The report also includes the following items:
- Aviation Worker Screening: Once again, the report repeats language that expresses concern about TSA’s Airport Security Program (ASP) amendment that requires airports to significantly increase airport-performed physical screening of employees and procure explosive detection screening (EDS) equipment for the first time. The language notes that “these new mandates, which require the establishment of screening operations at airports, impose an undue burden on airport operators and are being implemented without conducting a thorough cost-benefit analysis or risk assessment to justify the change. The Committee strongly encourages TSA to rescind the current ASP amendment and solicit a formal round of notice and comment to understand the full financial and operational impacts of this proposal.”
- Airport Wait Times: The report encourages TSA to keep wait times at airports at a reasonable level and ensure that security does not create undue burdens on the traveling public. The report further notes that “the fiscal year 2025 enacted funding level ensured that TSA could staff airport checkpoints with an adequate number of Transportation Security Officers (TSOs). The Committee encourages TSA to maintain TSO staffing at a level that does not create delays for air travelers.”
- TSA Reimbursable Services: The report highlights that there could be underutilized space and equipment in security screening areas that may limit TSA’s ability to handle expected volume increases. The Committee encourages “TSA to consider the success of the CBP’s Reimbursable Services Program as a model for generating private sector support and resources to improve security and efficiency at the security checkpoint while alleviating the strain on aviation from increases in traveler volume.”
- Explosive Detection System Outages: The report expresses concern about a recent pattern of EDS outages at airports nationwide and the disruptions these failures cause. The report identifies more than 200 systems that are at their “end-of-life,” but the agency does not have a realistic path forward on how to replace these unreliable machines. The report directs TSA to prioritize the purchase and installation of EDS at airports with chronic outages using amounts available in the Aviation Security Capital Fund and to develop a realistic plan for recapitalizing checked baggage equipment.
- Equipment Transfer to Local Law Enforcement: The report encourages TSA to improve how it transfers older equipment to local law enforcement, noting that a major barrier to this is its service contracts. The report recommends that TSA only enter into service contracts that expire when TSA no longer owns the equipment and examine ways to expedite the transfer of such equipment.
- Screening Workforce at Rural Airports: The report notes that many rural airports have difficulties hiring and retaining qualified TSOs, but at the same time, the agency is reducing hiring incentives at these locations, further exacerbating the difficulty with hiring. The Committee directs TSA to brief them “on the challenges of recruiting and retaining Federal employees in non-contiguous and rural states. The briefing shall include a clear description of the obstacles related to using small businesses; information about rates of attrition; the number of unfilled positions; and the duration of time for which those positions have remained vacant. The briefing shall also provide an assessment of the effect these vacancies have on the ability of TSA to accomplish its mission.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
In total, the House recommends $19.3 billion for CBP, a decrease of $249 million below FY25 but $62 million above the budget request. Most of this funding is focused on border security; however, the bill includes $122.9 million to hire an additional 450 CBP officers, as requested.
The report that accompanies the bill includes the following items of note:
- Low-Risk Air Travelers: The report encourages CBP to utilize technology and innovation to facilitate and expedite the processing of low-risk travelers at U.S. airports, while enhancing security and enforcement. The report specifically mentioned Enhanced Passenger Processing, currently deployed at 11 airports. The report further encourages CBP to consider new processes for frequent flyers not enrolled in a trusted traveler program. CBP is directed to submit a report to the Committee on its efforts to facilitate and expedite the processing of all low-risk travelers at U.S. airports, identify any efficiencies in CBP staffing, the impacts on the customer experience, and partnership with aviation stakeholders.
- Staffing at Largest Airports: The Committee strongly encourages CBP to ensure adequate hiring, training, and staffing levels to support operations at the top 10 U.S. air ports of entry, as determined by passenger enplanements measured by the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Resource Allocation Model (RAM): The report continues to be supportive of the agency’s RAM, directing any modifications to the RAM at the field and office level be included in future budget submissions and directing that the Committee be briefed on resource and staffing shortfalls on the northern and southern borders compared to levels prescribed by the RAM for rail crossings and ports of entry in the land, air, and sea environments, including cruise ship terminals. The report also encouraged CBP to continue to improve the model by seeking external review.
On Thursday, June 12, the House Appropriations Committee will consider the FY26 DHS appropriations bill. As compared to the Subcommittee’s consideration of the bill, this will be a more lengthy and contentious process.
The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet announced plans to begin considering the FY26 budget request.
Links:
