Rep. Pou Introduces WATCH Personnel Act to Raise TSA Pay and Give $10,000 Bonuses
The WATCH Personnel Act of 2026 is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It has been sent to the House Committees on Appropriations and Homeland Security for review. The bill is actively moving forward as it awaits further study by these groups.
Funding just one agency during a shutdown is usually difficult because lawmakers prefer to pass a full budget for the whole government.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
TSA employs roughly 60,000 workers, a small fraction of the 2+ million federal workforce, but those employees would see substantial benefits: a $40,000 minimum salary floor, annual inflation adjustments, a $10,000 one-time bonus, and guaranteed pay during government shutdowns. This is a major improvement for a workforce that has historically been among the lowest-paid in the federal government.
“set the minimum annual salary for a Transportation Security Officer to $40,000 for fiscal year 2026”
Referred to the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
WATCH Personnel Act of 2026
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