Government

What does the do?

Updates published annually

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is a subdivision of the Department of Homeland Security responsible for ensuring the security of the traveling public in the United States. The agency oversees security operations at airports, including passenger screening and baggage inspection, and works to prevent and respond to threats against transportation systems. It also collaborates with other federal, state, and local agencies to ensure transportation security. It was established in 2001.

In FY 2024,

$6.7B

was spent by the Transportation Security Administration
In FY 2024,

7.5%

of Dept. of Homeland Security spending was by the Transportation Security Administration

How much does the Transportation Security Administration spend?

The Transportation Security Administration spent a net total of $6.7 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 7.5% of the $89.3 billion spent by the Department of Homeland Security, which itself was 1.3% of all federal spending. The TSA ranked 5th among DHS subdivisions in net spending.
Net spending is the difference between agency spending and any financial accounts generating funds from the agency’s own activities, like fees or rent. When these funds offset all spending, net spending appears negative. Some agencies tend to operate with positive net spending while others will register negative net spending sometimes or often.

The Transportation Security Administration ranked 5th among Department of Homeland Security divisions in net spending in 2024.

DHS net spending by division, FY 2024

Like the overall federal budget, agency spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the Transportation Security Administration’s federal spending has increased from $827 million in 2003 to $6.7 billion in 2024.

The Transportation Security Administration’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 2003.

Yearly federal net spending by TSA, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 2003–2024

Since 2003, Transportation Security Administration spending has increased 710.7%, while overall spending has increased 83.3%.
As a percentage of the overall federal budget, a positive number means agency net spending made up some positive share of total federal spending; a negative number means that net generated funds offset a portion of total spending. TSA spending grew more than overall federal spending since 2003, which means that its share of the federal budget increased. In 2024, TSA accounted for 0.099% of overall federal spending.

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Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The Transportation Security Administration’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 2003.

Net spending by TSA as a share of federal spending, FYs 2003–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.
In FY 2024, all of the Transportation Security Administration's spending was direct.
The chart below outlines all net TSA spending.

How did the Transportation Security Administration spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to TSA, FY 2024

How many people work for the Transportation Security Administration?

Some 64,433 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Transportation Security Administration as of September 2024. This is 6.4% more people than the division staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Transportation Security Administration has increased 6.4% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for TSA, September 2010–2024

The Transportation Security Administration accounts for 2.8% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. The division constituted a smaller share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 compared to 2010 (2.9%).
While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the Transportation Security Administration’s share of the workforce (2.8%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.099%).

Who leads the Transportation Security Administration?

The TSA is led by an Administrator. This individual is appointed by the President and requires confirmation by the Senate. The Administrator reports to the Secretary of Homeland Security. There is no fixed term for this position.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

  • Office of Personnel Management

    FedScope

  • Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury

    Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement

    Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury logo