WATCH Personnel Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8902
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T08:08:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8902
Purpose
This legislation provides temporary funding to maintain pay and operations for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees during a lapse in regular appropriations starting February 14, 2026. It also establishes a new minimum salary level for certain TSA personnel and includes a one-time bonus.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill is named the "Workforce Assurance for Transportation and Critical Homeland Personnel Act of 2026" or "WATCH Personnel Act of 2026."
- Minimum Salary for TSA Officers: The TSA Administrator must set a minimum annual salary of $40,000 for Transportation Security Officers starting in fiscal year 2026. This amount adjusts annually for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index, with rounding rules and a minimum increase threshold of 1 percent.
- Continuing Appropriations: Funds are appropriated for fiscal year 2026 to cover standard pay, allowances, benefits, and other regular payments to TSA employees during any lapse in appropriations. A $10,000 bonus is provided to each Transportation Security Officer employed as of February 14, 2026.
- Bonus Limitations: The bonus does not count as basic pay for retirement, life insurance, or other benefits. Funds cannot duplicate payments already covered by other sources.
- Expenditure Rules: Spending is charged against future appropriations once enacted. Payments follow the same rules as under the prior continuing resolution (Public Law 119-4).
- Termination: Funding and authority end on the first of these events: enactment of new appropriations for these purposes, passage of a resolution without such funding, or September 30, 2026.
- Retroactive Date: The Act takes effect as if passed on February 13, 2026.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a fixed minimum salary of $40,000 for Transportation Security Officers in fiscal year 2026, with automatic inflation adjustments in future years, which may represent an increase over prior pay structures.
- Creates a mechanism for ongoing pay and a specific bonus during appropriation lapses, building on but expanding beyond standard continuing resolution practices.
- Adds limitations on how bonuses are treated for benefits and restricts use of funds to avoid overlap with other payments.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Allows the TSA to continue operations and retain staff during funding gaps without interruption, potentially reducing administrative burdens on the Department of Homeland Security.
- On Citizens: Supports consistent airport security screening by ensuring TSA personnel receive pay and incentives, which may help maintain service levels for travelers.
- On International Relations: No direct provisions affect international matters or relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- TSA employees, particularly Transportation Security Officers, who gain higher minimum pay, bonuses, and pay continuity.
- The TSA Administrator and Department of Homeland Security, responsible for implementing salary changes and managing funds.
- Congress and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, which oversee the funding and referral of the bill.
- The traveling public, who rely on uninterrupted TSA operations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The retroactive effective date allows the law to apply immediately to the start of the appropriation lapse.
- It exercises Congress's constitutional authority over appropriations by providing targeted funding and pay protections during periods without regular budget approval.
- The bill limits bonus treatment for benefits and ties expenditures to future laws, reinforcing standard fiscal controls without altering broader constitutional frameworks.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Workforce Assurance for Transportation and Critical Homeland Personnel Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (6 pages)