The Transportation Security Administration is considering allowing TSA PreCheck passengers to bring full water bottles through security checkpoints at a select number of airports in the coming months. The potential change would be rolled out initially to airports equipped with newer CT screening technology and automated detection capabilities that can distinguish water from other liquids and identify potential threats.

TSA officials did not specify which airports may be included in the new program. The existing 3-1-1 rule, which requires carry-on liquids to be in containers of 3.4 ounces or less, remains in effect for all other travelers and locations.

The agency faces constraints that prevent an immediate expansion of the policy. The TSA has not acquired the technology to scan full bottles of liquid at the scale needed for a nationwide rollout. Additionally, the TSA does not have the funding for a nationwide rollout of the technology.

This consideration follows other recent adjustments to the trusted traveler experience. The TSA launched its Gateside by TSA program for PreCheck travelers days prior to this announcement. The Gateside by TSA program allows approved PreCheck members without airline tickets to pass through security and enter gate areas at 13 airports. The Gateside by TSA program is expected to expand after the TSA evaluates passenger volumes and operational effects of the initial rollout.

TSA PreCheck is a program run by the U.S. government that allows travelers to bypass standard security lines and undergo an expedited screening process. Travelers undergo a security check before being approved for TSA PreCheck. The shorter TSA PreCheck screening normally takes 10 minutes, according to the TSA.

What's New

Research titled "Risk and economic assessment of expedited passenger screening and TSA PreCheck" was published in 2016 in Journal of Transportation Security. A study titled "Risk-based passenger screening: risk and economic assessment of TSA PreCheck increased security at reduced cost?" was published in 2016 in NOVA (University of Newcastle Australia). A study titled "Modeling Precheck Parallel Screening Process in the Face of Strategic Applicants with Incomplete Information and Screening Errors" was published in 2017 in Risk Analysis.

The Department of Homeland Security published a notice titled "Intent To Request Revision From OMB of One Current Public Collection of Information: TSA Customer Comment Card" on August 3, 2026. The department also published a notice titled "New Agency Information Collection Activity Under OMB Review: Real-Time Wait-Time Dashboarding" on June 11, 2026.

Why It Matters

The proposed adjustment represents a shift in how security protocols apply to trusted travelers who have already undergone vetting. By leveraging advanced CT screening technology, the agency aims to maintain threat detection standards while reducing friction for passengers who have been pre-approved. The limitation to select airports reflects the current gap between available technology and the resources required for universal implementation.

The concurrent launch of the Gateside program and the ongoing evaluation of passenger volumes indicate a broader strategy to test operational changes in controlled environments. With more than 200 airports currently participating in the PreCheck ecosystem, any change to liquid restrictions has the potential to affect domestic air travel. The absence of funding for a nationwide rollout means that any expansion will depend on future budget allocations and technological acquisition.