Since 9/11, USA has spent over $100 billion in aviation security, significantly more than other countries during this period.

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States has spent a staggering amount on aviation security, with estimates exceeding $100 billion to $150 billion by 2026. This high-fidelity expenditure is primarily driven by the annual budget of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which was created in response to the attacks. In the mid-2020s, the TSA's annual budget has risen to over $10 billion to $11 billion, covering a workforce of over 50,000 screeners, the deployment of advanced CT scanners, and Federal Air Marshal programs. Beyond the federal budget, billions more have been spent by local airport authorities on "High-Fidelity" infrastructure upgrades, reinforced cockpit doors, and biometric verification systems. In 2026, a significant portion of the budget is also directed toward the "Check Point Property Screening System" and the "Aviation Security Capital Fund." While the "High-Fidelity" cost is immense, it reflects a continuous investment in preventing evolving threats through a complex layers-of-security approach across the National Airspace System.