Tracing the tax that's supposed to fund TSA

Amid ongoing government shutdown chaos at U.S. airports, TSA workers have gone unpaid for over a month, even as travelers continue paying a passenger security fee—about $11 for round-trip tickets—that was meant to fund their salaries. The fees are collected, but the money isn't reaching the workers, raising questions about how this "9/11 tax" actually works.

Origins of the Passenger Security Fee

Right after 9/11, Congress created the TSA as a new agency needing funds for thousands of employees screening passengers and luggage. The 2001 law introduced a hypothecated tax: a fee on airline tickets paid by passengers, plus a monthly fee from airlines. This earmarked revenue directly supported airport security, aligning costs with users—travelers and carriers—who benefited from safer flights. Tax experts like Adam Hoffer of the Tax Foundation note that such taxes work well when tightly linked to the program, similar to gas taxes funding roads, ensuring those using the service pay for it.