Air passengers passing through security and trying to get everything back into their bags and pockets have been inadvertently tipping the Transportation Security Administration nearly a million dollars a year in change left in the bins.
Last year’s total of $960,105.49 was an increase of over $90,000 from the year before. By law, TSA keeps the change, and can spend it only on projects it considers important for civil aviation security; one recent use has been advertising campaigns to get more travelers to join the Pre-Check program.
Most of the money from recent years is still in the account, and there are reports that the Trump Administration is looking at the possibility of taking it for the President’s border wall project, perhaps giving many of us a reason to be more careful at scanning.
Here’s where the bulk of the change has landed:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York): $72,392.74
- Los Angeles International Airport: $71,748.83
- Miami International Airport: $50,504.49
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport: $49,597.23
- Newark Liberty International Airport: $41,026.07
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: $36,707.99
- San Francisco International Airport: $33,264.80
- McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas): $33,038.23
- Orlando International Airport: $32,687.10
- Dulles International Airport (Washington, D.C.): $31,090.38
