New Report Details Travel Reforms Needed Before Mega-Decade of Events

by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 6:00 PM ET, Wed February 19, 2025

Over the next several years, the United States is set to host a number of high-profile events including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 2025 Ryder Cup and America’s 250th anniversary.

The U.S. Travel Association says, however, that without immediate action the country’s outdated air travel system will strain under the pressure brought about by these events.

The association’s Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel has just issued a new report on the topic, in which it provides a “blueprint” designed to more adequately position America for the coming events and help avoid massive entry delays, overwhelmed TSA checkpoints and frustrated travelers.

“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,” Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement. “Each of our recommendations will enhance both security and speed, ensuring travelers move efficiently through our airport.”

Based on the Commission’s report, the U.S. Travel Association is calling on Congress and the Trump Administration to take four key steps. They include the following:

Establish White House leadership to showcase America at premier events. 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.  

Deliver on President Trump’s promise to process visas efficiently and securely for the 2026 World Cup. This would include 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.  

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.  

Create strong, modern and efficient airport borders to keep America safe and global travel moving. This would include 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; and strengthening protection against immigration overstays by completing biometric air exit within two years.

“America is staring at a historic opportunity — the question is whether we will seize the moment or fall maddeningly short,” said 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. "