A new federal law is giving some Veterans a free path into TSA PreCheck. The VETS Safe Travel Act, signed on Jan. 4, 2025, lets eligible Veterans enroll at no cost if they meet a narrow set of disability and health-care requirements.
The benefit is aimed at Veterans whose disability has been tied by VA to the use of a VA-issued wheelchair or prosthetic limb because of loss or loss of use of an extremity, full or partial paralysis, or permanent blindness. They also must be enrolled in VA healthcare. VA said it has already sent eligibility letters to Veterans who qualify, which is why searches for TSA PreCheck are spiking now.
For those who do qualify, the appeal is straightforward. TSA PreCheck offers an expedited airport screening process designed to make security checks more streamlined, and the law says TSA shall waive the enrollment fee subject to availability of funds. But the letter alone is not a fast pass to approval. Veterans still must meet TSA’s standard citizenship and security requirements, including a background check.
That is where the promise of the new law meets the limits of the screening system. Veterans can be turned away for incomplete or false application information, certain violations of federal security regulations, disqualifying criminal offenses and other factors. In other words, the benefit is real, but it is not automatic, and it is not universal even among people who receive the letter.
To use the waiver, Veterans must bring a copy of their letter during the TSA PreCheck enrollment process. Those who need extra help at checkpoints can also request assistance through TSA Cares. For questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at security checkpoints, TSA says to reach out at least 72 hours before travel. The law has opened the door for a defined group of Veterans, but whether every eligible applicant gets through it will depend on the standard checks and whether funds are available when they apply.
