TSA makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left behind at the airport checkpoint. Lost and found items retained by TSA for a minimum of thirty (30) days, and if not claimed, are either destroyed, turned over to a state agency for surplus property, or sold by TSA as excess property.

Generally, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) does not return items that are voluntarily abandoned at security checkpoints. When an item is flagged—such as a pocketknife, oversized liquid, or prohibited tool—you are typically given several options: you can return it to your vehicle, give it to a non-traveling companion, check it into your luggage (if time permits), or mail it to yourself using a nearby shipping service like Airportrop. If you choose to leave it behind, it becomes government property. These items are often sent to state agencies for surplus property, where they are sold at auctions or in surplus stores. However, if an item is lost (not confiscated) and found by TSA, you can file a claim through the TSA Lost and Found office at that specific airport. In 2026, the process remains strictly one-way for prohibited items; once you hand it over to "voluntary abandonment," the TSA does not have a mechanism to ship it back to you or hold it for your return flight, making it essential to double-check your carry-on before leaving home.