America is on the brink of a historic travel surge, says the U.S. Travel Association, as it will host the 2025 Ryder Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, not to mention 250 anniversary celebrations next year. Looking further down the line, the U.S. will also host the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup, the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics and annual Formula One races in Las Vegas, Miami and Austin.
That said, without immediate action, the country’s outdated air travel system will strain under the increased level of visitation. The biggest pain points were identified by a report released by the Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel (which itself was established by U.S. Travel). And none of these even considers the seemingly increased level of plane crashes that have occurred in North America this year.
“The advancements we recommend are an opportunity for President Trump and Congress to enact the most significant improvements to air travel since TSA PreCheck, which revolutionized traveler security and screening,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Each of our recommendations will enhance both security and speed, ensuring travelers move efficiently through our airports.”
In addition to security reforms outlined throughout the report, U.S. Travel continues to call for urgent modernization of air traffic control technology and solutions to the nation’s air traffic controller shortages.
Added Freeman: “The next several years will bring unprecedented travel demand that our systems are not prepared to handle. Washington has a small window to fix major travel pain points and unlock a $100 billion economic opportunity—but it will require a level of urgency that has been missing in recent years.”
According to the report, with the right policies in place, these events can welcome 40 million international visitors and drive $95 billion in economic activity.
Based on the Commission’s report, the U.S. Travel Association is calling on Congress and the Trump Administration to take four steps:
1. The Trump Administration should immediately establish a task force, chaired by a senior White House official, to bring sustained leadership and focus across the federal government to take advantage of global events coming our way over the next four years.
2. Process visas efficiently and securely for the 2026 World Cup, including:
- Providing full-strength consular staffing for visa processing.
- Extending B-1/B-2 visa validity for vetted, lawful visitors by two years.
- Establishing a National Vetting Service that builds on President Trump’s National Vetting Center and processes all visitor visas in 30 days or less.
- Creating a “Secure Travel Partnership” program to increase countries that have strong travel security agreements with the U.S. as a stepping-stone to the Visa Waiver Program.
3. Create the world’s most advanced and secure airport screening process by making a historic investment in security technology. Immediately end the diversion of the Passenger Security Fee and increase technology funding to ensure that within five years all travelers can pack larger liquids in carry-ons, keep electronics and IDs in their bags, and keep their shoes, jackets and belts on.
4. Create strong, modern and efficient airport borders to keep America safe and global travel moving, including through:
- Providing full-strength CBP staffing at airport customs.
- Ending hours-long customs wait times for Americans returning home from abroad by leveraging biometrics and advanced vetting to remove the requirement to meet with a CBP officer unless they have something to declare.
- Strengthening protection against immigration overstays by completing biometric air exit within two years.
The Commission comprises former government officials from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration and the State Department, along with private sector experts from airport management and investment entities.