Input Needed: Please Complete Survey on LEO, Canines, and Exit Lane Costs

April 1, 2024

Despite our vigorous objections, the final FY24 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill eliminated funding for TSA's law enforcement officer reimbursement program and state and local-led canine teams, shifting the costs to airport operators. The President's budget request for FY25 proposes to eliminate funds for these two programs through the next fiscal year and also seeks to shift exit lane responsibilities to airport operators. Currently, TSA monitors exit lanes at about 100 airports and has been required to do so by federal statute since 2013.
 
AAAE is actively advocating to restore funding for these three activities in the FY25 DHS spending bill. To help further bolster our arguments on Capitol Hill, we need your input about the costs and impacts of the loss of TSA funding for these important priorities. We intend to aggregate this data. We will not use your specific answers without your permission.
 
We strongly urge you to complete this brief survey. Rough cost estimates are welcome. We would like responses no later than Friday, April 19, 2024, because the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will begin developing funding recommendations for their FY25 spending bills shortly.
 
In addition to completing the survey, we urge you to continue to reach out to your Representative and Senators on the need to restore funding for these critical airport security funding priorities. Please see the AAAE Airport Action Alert for more information and sample talking points.
 
Thank you in advance for your assistance.