The SAFEGUARDS Act of 2026 aims to ensure that the 9/11 Security Fee is used exclusively for its intended purpose: enhancing aviation security. Congress states that this passenger-paid fee should solely fund activities, programs, equipment, and personnel directly improving commercial aviation security, including screening and technology upgrades. The bill emphasizes that diverting these funds for unrelated purposes undermines public trust and the fee's original intent, calling for an end to such diversions by 2027. To achieve this, the bill significantly modifies the allocation of these fees, starting in fiscal year 2027. It mandates that the first $500,000,000 from the 9/11 Security Fee be deposited annually into the Aviation Security Capital Fund for grants and agreements to implement aviation security improvements. Furthermore, it establishes a new Aviation Security Checkpoint Technology Fund , requiring the next $250,000,000 from the fee to be allocated annually for the testing procurement deployment installation sustainment of advanced aviation security checkpoint technology.