New US law giving TSA responsibility for breast milk and formula policies

On November 25, 2025, the Act on Improving Screening of Breastfeeding Bottles and Equipment entered into force. The bipartisan legislation aims to strengthen protocols for Transportation Security Administration workers handling breast milk, formula and related products. (Getty Images)

After years of effort, a bipartisan measure went into effect last week to make travel easier for parents who encounter problems at airport security screening with breast milk and formula.

Congress passed Act of 2016 which included breast milk, formula and toddler drinks.”medically necessary fluids” that can be taken on airplanes and in carry-on luggage in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces, along with ice and gel pouches and other related accessories. However, airport security officers are not always trained in this policy, and parents are still struggling almost a decade later, United Newsroom reported, sometimes experience flight delays or are forced to throw away milk that has been processed in an unhygienic manner.

Three years ago, after Father bad experience at the airportengineer and science TV host Emily Calandrelli called on Congress to get the Transportation Security Administration to enforce its own breast milk policy. She advocated for this legislation with lobbying groups such as the Chamber of Mothers, founded by working mothers in 2021.

The group’s co-founder and CEO, Erin Erenberg, said in a statement that the measure’s passage was “a victory for every parent who has been mistreated or fired and was simply caring for their child.”

The Act on improving screening of breastfeeding bottles and equipment was approved unanimously by both houses of Congress this year. It says TSA is improving standards and requiring officers to follow protocol when screening passengers who are breastfeeding and carrying milk, formula or juice for their babies on planes. Within 90 days of President Donald Trump signing the bill on Nov. 25 – and every five years thereafter – the agency must issue or update guidance to minimize the risk of contamination.

“I am happy to announce that the BABES Act is officially the law of the land,” Democrat Eric Swalwell of California said in a speech statement Monday. “As a husband and father, I know how difficult it can be to fly with a newborn.[…]This is about dignity, peace of mind and protecting families in one of the most vulnerable moments of parenting.”

“This bill ensures clear rules, adequate training and full transparency so parents can travel knowing their baby food will be protected, not mishandled or thrown away,” Florida Republican Maria Salazar said in a statement statement.

Under this measure, TSA agents must follow hygiene standards when handling breast milk, formula and related products – such as ice packs or other cooling devices – to reduce the risk of contamination. The bill also directs the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General to audit TSA’s compliance with the law and report to Congress within one year of enactment.

Salazar co-sponsored bill in the House with Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna and Democratic Reps. Swalwell and Brittany Pettersen of Colorado.

“Like many mothers, I have experienced the frustration of having to pour out milk or express breast milk even though they were TSA approved. Outdated regulations or lack of training should not add to an already stressful situation,” Pettersen said in an interview with statement.

The Senate passed the bill unanimously in May. GOP Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Steve Daines of Montana introduced the bill in the upper house along with Democratic Sens. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.

“Our bipartisan legislation will ensure that TSA keeps its employees informed of its own policies and updates those policies as necessary. It’s the least we can do to help parents travel through airports with the dignity and respect they deserve,” Duckworth said in an interview statement.

This year marked the first time the bill was introduced in both chambers, even though it had been introduced several times in previous sessions.

During his certificate before the bill passed the House of Representatives on Nov. 17, Swalwell thanked Calandrelli for sharing her experiences with having to check ice packs and being questioned about having to breastfeed while traveling without an infant.

“This is a success story for anyone who believes they can write to their legislator and see a change in the laws that govern us,” Swalwell said.

Calendrelli told her supporters the same thing on Facebook.

“But now, 3.5 years later, we have turned a terrible experience into a bill that will become law. This is a humiliation for the legislative pipeline, amirite?”