The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) collected and retained nearly $1 million in loose change and small bills left behind by travelers at airport security checkpoints across the United States last year.
In total, the agency recovered $867,812.39 from screening bins and trays. That amount represents an increase of roughly $102,000 compared with cash left behind in 2015, and continues a multi-year trend of rising totals.
TSA officials attribute the growing sum largely to an expanding number of air travelers, which increases the opportunities for coins and small bills to be forgotten at security lanes.
Airports with the highest amounts of unclaimed cash included John F. Kennedy International Airport at the top of the list, where travelers left $70,615, followed by Los Angeles International Airport with about $45,000 and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport with roughly $42,000.
Under federal law, the TSA is permitted to retain unclaimed cash found at checkpoints and use the funds for security-related purposes. In prior years the agency has applied some of these funds to expand programs such as TSA PreCheck.
While the amounts may seem large in aggregate, the sums are typically comprised of small denominations—coins and low-value bills—that travelers accidentally leave behind during security screening. The TSA continues to remind passengers to check bins, trays and personal items before leaving the checkpoint area to avoid losing money or important belongings.