TSA ADJUSTS CIVIL MONETARY PENALTY AMOUNT FOR INFLATION
January 19, 2026
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On December 29, 2025, TSA published a technical amendment modifying the maximum civil monetary penalties which were last revised by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on January 2, 2025. Since the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 authorized TSA to increase the statutory maximum civil monetary penalty amounts for security-related violations, the technical amendment raised the maximum amount to $42,657 per violation (up to a total of $1,200,000 per civil penalty action). Carriers and ground handlers at U.S. airports should take this opportunity to ensure compliance with TSA regulations, especially those concerning screening protocols and employee badging procedures. Doing so can proactively identify areas of concern at a time when TSA continues to aggressively enforce strict compliance with TSA and other airport specific security requirements.
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