Senate passes bill to end airport screening perks for Congress as TSA lines surge nationwide

HOUSTON – For years members of Congress and their staff had special privileges at airports, allowing them to quickly skip TSA screening lines. But as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle grow more impatient, that luxury is gone.

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed legislation, authored by Texas Senator John Cornyn, aimed at ending preferential airport screening access for members of Congress, as travelers across the country face long security lines during a partial government shutdown.

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The wait time for TSA lines at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport soared past four hours on Monday.

The measure would require lawmakers to go through the same Transportation Security Administration screening procedures as the general public and bar the use of federal funds for expedited or preferential access at airport checkpoints.

The bill passed the Senate on March 19 by unanimous consent.

What does the bill do?

The legislation, titled the End Special Treatment for Congress at Airports Act of 2026, explicitly prohibits:

• Any exemption from TSA passenger or baggage screening
• Priority or expedited access to security checkpoints based on a lawmaker’s position
• The use of federal funds to provide preferential screening access

The bill does allow members of Congress to use programs available to the public, such as TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, as long as access is not tied to their office.

Why now?

The push comes as TSA staffing shortages during the ongoing partial government shutdown have led to long lines at airports nationwide.

In a statement, Cornyn said many Americans are unaware that lawmakers can bypass standard lines. (Did you know?)

“As many Americans probably don’t know … airports around the country allow Members of Congress to bypass the usual TSA security screening process,” Cornyn said. “In other words, they get to skip the line.”

He called the access “an unfair perk” and framed the bill as a step toward restoring public trust.

What special privileges do members of Congress get?

Members of Congress are not exempt from security screening entirely.

They are still required to go through TSA screening procedures overseen by the Transportation Security Administration.

However, in practice, lawmakers and some senior staff often have access to separate or limited-access screening checkpoints, particularly at Washington-area airports. These areas often have less crowded screening lanes coordinated for government officials. Additional security coordination with federal agencies allows for faster processing.

At airports like Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, these arrangements can allow lawmakers to avoid the longest public lines, especially during peak delays.

For travelers, the difference is largely about time, not rules. The people who elected members of Congress are may face long, unpredictable wait times while their elected leaders often move through faster, less congested checkpoints.

The bill seeks to eliminate that gap by requiring lawmakers to use the same access points as other passengers, unless they qualify through public programs.

The legislation would still need approval from the House before heading to the president’s desk.

If enacted, the TSA administrator would be required to update policies and report to Congress within 180 days on implementation and compliance.