TSA: Congress should pay DHS fees

On March 20, Steve Honig suggested that the airlines pay for TSA agents. Passengers pay for the TSA. All airline tickets include a Sept. 11 Security Fee (TSA Fee) of $5.60 one-way ($11.20 round trip). In Fiscal Year 2024, $4.49 billion was collected (a record). However, through a political sleight of hand called the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, Congress has required that a portion (33%) of the Sept. 11 Security Fee be diverted to the U.S. Treasury for general deficit reduction rather than aviation security. The diversion of funds has resulted in the TSA fees being insufficient to pay the entire cost of TSA security.

The TSA fee is only part of the fees and taxes passengers pay for airline travel. Federal excise tax, flight segment fee, TSA fee, and passenger facility charge add $40 to a typical one-way ticket from Spokane to Denver. In addition, airlines pay fuel tax, landing fees, and many other costs that are passed on to the passengers in the cost of a ticket.

Bottom Line: Passengers pay for TSA and just about everything else in air travel. Congress should fund Department of Homeland Security, it is the money we pay when we fly on an airline.

JIM COLEMAN

Coeur d’Alene