Passengers who are not enrolled in TSA PreCheck but have occasionally been routed through its lanes could see that practice end.
On some busy travel days, TSA has directed low-risk travelers into TSA PreCheck lanes to ease long security lines, even when those travelers have not completed the pre-screening process or paid the membership fee. That occasional mixing has generated complaints from enrolled PreCheck members who expect consistent, expedited screening.
Congress is reviewing legislation called “PreCheck Is PreCheck,” which has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives by voice vote. The bill received support from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), which urged action in a letter to the House Homeland Security Committee.
“PreCheck offers business travelers a risk-based, intelligence-driven aviation security that is fast, safe and efficient,” GBTA said. “Time is money for business travelers, and inefficient procedures reduce business travel due to the hassle factor and ultimately hurt the economy.”
According to the Congressional summary, the bill would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to ensure that only travelers who are members of a trusted traveler program may use TSA PreCheck lanes at checkpoints. The intent is to preserve the program’s integrity and provide enrolled passengers the consistent benefits they expect.
The proposal also calls for TSA to create more segmented screening lanes that separate travelers by risk level, enabling truly low-risk passengers to undergo less invasive screening procedures while maintaining security for all travelers.
Having cleared the House, the bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.