S. 2378 — SAFEGUARDS Act of 2025

This section expresses the sense of Congress that revenue from the 9/11 security fee (i.e., passenger fee imposed by the Transportation Security Administration under 49 U.S.C. 44940 at $5.60 per one-way trip, not to exceed $11.20 per round trip) should be used exclusively to fund aviation security activities such as passenger and baggage screening, security technology upgrades, and aviation security personnel; and that diversion of such revenue to non-aviation security purposes should end no later than 2027.

This section revises the Aviation Security Capital Fund, which provides grants to airports for security improvement projects (e.g., explosive detection systems, checkpoint modifications). Specifically, it (1) continues deposits of the first $250 million collected annually from aviation security fees under 49 U.S.C. §44940(a)(1) through FY2025, with the TSA Administrator required to impose fees sufficient to collect at least that amount each year; and (2) increases such annual deposits to $500 million (from $250 million) beginning in FY2026 and thereafter, with the same collection requirement. Amounts in the Fund remain available to the TSA Administrator for grants under this section.

This section establishes within the Department of Homeland Security the Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund (ASCT Fund), to be funded beginning in FY2026—and each fiscal year thereafter—by $250 million annually from TSA passenger security fees under 49 U.S.C. 44940(a)(1) after the first $500 million is deposited into the Aviation Security Capital Fund. Amounts in the ASCT Fund are available until expended to the TSA Administrator for procurement, deployment, and sustainment of aviation security checkpoint and exit lane technology, including grants to airports under this section (which authorizes security capital improvement projects such as replacing baggage conveyor systems and installing explosive detection systems); TSA may retroactively approve such grants for projects implemented on or after January 1, 2023.