SAFEGUARDS Act of 2025

Summary

Spending Aviation Fees for Equipment, Guaranteeing Upgraded and Advanced Risk Detection and Safety Act of 2025 or the SAFEGUARDS Act of 2025 This bill allocates additional funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for aviation security, including checked baggage explosives detection equipment and security checkpoint technology. As background, TSA collects passenger civil aviation security service fees (often referred to as the 9/11 security fee or passenger security fee) on air carrier passengers originating at airports in the United States. In general, these fees are deposited into the Department of the Treasury general fund and applied towards debt reduction. A portion of these fees are allocated to TSA for aviation security. The bill requires that the first $500 million collected in each fiscal year from passenger security fees be deposited into the Aviation Security Capital Fund. This is an increase from the currently required $250 million. This fund provides for the costs associated with acquiring and installing in-line baggage screening systems (i.e., systems that use a conveyor belt infrastructure to automatically screen, sort, and track baggage) to accommodate checked baggage explosives detection equipment and for certain other airport security improvements. The bill also requires that the next $250 million collected in each fiscal year from passenger security fees be deposited into a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund for the costs associated with acquiring, deploying, and sustaining aviation security checkpoint and exit lane technology. TSA may use these funds retroactively for projects implemented on or after January 1, 2023.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

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Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation · U.S. Senate

Full history

1. Apr 14, 2026

   Reported out of committee

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

2. Apr 14, 2026

   In committee

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   U.S. Senate

3. Apr 14, 2026

   Reported out of committee

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

4. Apr 14, 2026

   Reported out of committee

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

5. Jul 22, 2025

   Introduced

   Introduced in U.S. Senate

   U.S. Senate