WATCH Personnel Act of 2026

Summary#

This bill directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to set the minimum annual salary for a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) at $40,000 for fiscal year 2026. The TSA Administrator must set that amount within 90 days of the law taking effect. For fiscal year 2027 and later, the minimum salary must be adjusted each fiscal year (on October 1) to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) compared to fiscal year 2026. The Administrator must round CPI increases to the nearest dollar and may ignore increases under 1 percent.

The bill also makes continuing appropriations for the period beginning February 14, 2026, during any lapse in appropriations for fiscal year 2026. It provides such sums as are necessary to pay standard rates of pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other regular payments for TSA employees during that lapse. The bill provides a $10,000 bonus to each TSO who is employed and working for the TSA as of February 14, 2026. The bonus is explicitly not considered basic pay for retirement, life insurance, or other employee benefits. Amounts provided under the continuing appropriation may not be used to pay an employee for any portion of the lapse period for which the employee is paid from other funds. Expenditures made under the continuing appropriation must be charged to the applicable appropriation when that appropriation is later enacted. The appropriations and authorities provided under the continuing-appropriations section terminate on the earlier of enactment of the applicable appropriation, enactment of another applicable appropriations measure without such funding, or September 30, 2026. The Act is effective retroactively to February 13, 2026.

What it means for you#

• If you are a Transportation Security Officer employed and working for the TSA as of February 14, 2026: the bill sets a $40,000 minimum annual salary for FY2026, requires future annual CPI-based adjustments, and provides a $10,000 bonus during a funding lapse that begins February 14, 2026.
• If you are another TSA employee: the bill provides for continuing pay, allowances, benefits, and other regular payments during a lapse in appropriations beginning February 14, 2026, but does not specify amounts for employees other than the $10,000 TSO bonus and the TSO minimum salary.
• If you are not a TSA employee: No publicly available information on direct effects to you in the bill text.

Expenses#

• The bill authorizes "such sums as are necessary" from the Treasury to continue TSA pay, allowances, differentials, benefits, and regular payments during the lapse beginning February 14, 2026. It also authorizes a $10,000 bonus to each TSO employed and working as of that date.
• The bill does not state a total dollar cost or estimate for these appropriations. No publicly available information on total cost is included in the bill text.
• Expenditures made under the continuing-appropriations provision are to be charged to the applicable appropriation or fund when that appropriation is later enacted.
• The $10,000 bonus is not treated as basic pay for retirement, life insurance, or other employee benefits.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.