Fact Check: Does Senate bill end special treatment for lawmakers at airport security screenings?

WASHINGTON, DC: In mid-March 2026, a rumor circulated online claiming that the Senate passed a bill aiming to ban members of Congress from getting preferential treatment during airport security screenings.

The rumor circulated on the social media platform X, along with videos of exceptionally long lines at airports. But is there any truth to this viral claim? Let us find out below.

Claim: Senate bill bans special treatment for lawmakers at airport security screenings

An X user shared the viral clip and wrote, "The US Senate has just PASSED legislation that BANS members of Congress from getting fast-tracked through TSA security. GOOD! NO MORE special bypasses, ESPECIALLY when Senate Dems can't even keep DHS open, and TSA paid! Make this the law."

Similarly, another X user wrote, "US Senate passes @JohnCornyn bill to end special treatment for members of Congress who are allowed to bypass TSA security checkpoints at airports."

The post mentioned that Cornyn said, "This should end today. Members of Congress are getting an unfair perk."

Meanwhile, another person wrote, "@JohnCornyn bill to bar special treatment for lawmakers @TSA checkpoints wins unanimous approval from Senate."

Fact Check: True, Senate unanimously consented to pass the bill

The claim made in the viral social media posts is true, as the Senate unanimously consented to pass the bill on Thursday, March 19.

However, the bill will have to pass through the House of Representatives before being signed by President Donald Trump and becoming law, which has yet to happen. 

Notably, the proposed bill was intended 'to prohibit preferential screening for Members of Congress at airports, and for other purposes,' as per its official description. 

Interestingly, the bill was introduced amid reports of long wait times at airport security checkpoints, mainly due to staffing shortages caused by the lapse in Department of Homeland Security funding that started in mid-February 2026.

Sen John Cornyn, who was its sponsor, posted on X, "It is hypocritical for Democrats to continue to refuse to fund TSA and other Department of Homeland Security functions, while getting expedited treatment at airports unlike their constituents."

Meanwhile, the legislation seemed to be an attempt to urge Democratic lawmakers to end the lapse of funding for DHS by inconveniencing them during their travels.

The bill mentioned that "none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Transportation Security Administration shall be used to provide or facilitate the provision of a Member of Congress with expedited or preferential access to or through security screenings," including trusted traveler programs such as TSA PreCheck.