Tracing the tax that's supposed to fund TSA
March 26, 2026
8 min
Full
239 of 300
March 26, 2026
Tracing the tax that's supposed to fund TSA
0:00 / 8:08
Excerpt playback isn’t available for this episode — use the full-episode link.
Search the Record
Moment search isn’t open for this episode yet
When it opens, you’ll be able to type any phrase and jump straight to the second it was said.
Nprs Planet Money Episodes Around March 26, 2026
Episode 239 of 300 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
8:08This episodeTracing the tax that's supposed to fund TSA
Summary
Every time you buy a ticket that leaves a U.S. airport, you pay a fee that’s supposed to help fund the TSA. So why have TSA workers been working without pay? Today on the show, we explore the history behind an earmarked tax and its very personal impacts.<br /><br /><strong>Come see Planet Money live on stage in April! 12 cities. Details and tix here: </strong><a href="https://tix.to/pm-book-tour" target="_blank"><strong>https://tix.to/pm-book-tour</strong></a><strong>. </strong><br /><br /><strong>Related episodes: </strong><br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5759714/your-next-flight-doesnt-have-to-be-so-expensive-heres-why" target="_blank">Your next flight doesn't have to be so expensive. Here's why</a> <br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/07/05/1197960905/flying-airlines-deregulation-competition-unbundling" target="_blank">How flying got so bad (or did it?)</a> <br /><br /><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/" target="_blank"><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>.</em> <em>Fact-checking by </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1268825622/sierra-juarez" target="_blank"><em>Sierra Juarez</em></a><em>. </em><em>Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank"><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney" target="_blank"><em>TikTok</em></a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/" target="_blank"><em>Instagram</em></a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money" target="_blank"><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>. </em> <br /><br /><br />See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>
Episode details and artwork are published by the show’s own feed. Sentinel plays short cited excerpts and links every episode back to its publisher.