Hearing Report: Administration Officials Discuss DHS Shutdown and FY27 Budget Request at House Hearing
April 16, 2026
During a House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing today, Ha McNeill, the Transportation Security Administration’s Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator, described the impacts of the DHS shutdown and defended the administration’s proposal to require small airports to join the Screening Partnership Program (SPP).
McNeill and leaders from the Coast Guard, Secret Service, FEMA, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency participated in the hearing that focused on the shutdown and the administration’s budget request for the fiscal year that begins on October 1.
DHS Shutdown
Impacts on TSA Employees: Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are still struggling to coalesce around a plan to end the latest DHS shutdown, which began 61 days ago. The impasse prompted the administration to direct DHS to pay TSA and other agency employees. McNeill thanked TSA employees for their “unrelenting efforts” to provide security during those events. She also mentioned that government shutdowns in FY 2026 “resulted in nearly $1 billion in delayed paychecks for TSA employees.”
In an exchange on the impact of the three shutdowns experienced since last October — which now covers 109 days in total — McNeill told lawmakers that attrition rates for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) are nearing 25 percent and employee recruitment has suffered. She added that it takes four to six months to hire and train new staff, which is especially troubling with upcoming events including the FIFA World Cup and America 250 celebrations.
FY27 Budget Request
Passenger Security Fee: The administration’s budget request calls on Congress to end the diversion of Aviation Security Passenger Fee revenue currently being used to pay for deficit reduction. McNeill pointed out that “Congress has diverted approximately $1.6 billion in Aviation Security Passenger Fee revenue each year for deficit-reduction purposes.” She indicated that ending the diversion would bolster TSA screening operations.
Screening Partnership Program: The administration’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request includes a controversial proposal that would require small airports to join the SPP. The administration estimates that privatizing screening functions at category III and IV airports would save TSA approximately $52 million.
In response to questions from Subcommittee Ranking Member Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) on the specifics of the SPP proposal, McNeill noted that a specific legislative proposal with further details is being developed. She added that in the absence of funding for TSOs, the agency is forced to make daily decisions on operations based on workforce absences and that smaller airports are disproportionately affected by employee call-outs.
McNeill said that the proposal to expand SPP to smaller airports — a total of 254 according to TSA — would leverage public private partnerships and insulate participating airports from the impacts of future shutdowns. She also mentioned in her written testimony that TSA is working to provide incentives for other airports to join the SPP program in an effort “to drive greater capital into checkpoints and checked baggage screening and to optimize security operations….”
Other Issues
One-Stop Security Program: In her written testimony, McNeill indicated that the administration is moving forward with the One-Stop Security (OSS) Program, which TSA says will “drastically simplify travel for passengers flying to the United States." McNeill highlighted the successful pilot at London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
“Currently, there are eight OSS flights per day from LHR into Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport (ATL) and Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), saving each OSS passenger up to two hours that he or she can now use to relax, shop, and dine at the airport,” McNeill said.
Real ID: McNeill’s written testimony also hit on Read ID. She pointed out that about 98 percent of travelers currently have a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification. She also described how those who do not have an acceptable ID can pay $45 to use TSA’s ConfirmID.
“The fee ensures that the cost to cover the verification of an unacceptable ID will be borne by the non-compliant traveler, not the American taxpayer, and prevents malign actors from boarding a plane,” McNeill said. “TSA will continue to enforce REAL ID and ConfirmID to ensure robust traveler vetting and that we are upholding the highest standards of identity verification.”
Related Information
