There about 620 million passengers in the US per year (http://www.transtats.bts.gov/ http://www.transtats.bts.gov/), which comes out to $47 billion. In governme

There about 620 million passengers in the US per year (http://www.transtats.bts.gov/ http://www.transtats.bts.gov/), which comes out to $47 billion. In government terms, not that enormous. In terms of lives saved, the TSA is already a gigantic waste of money. You could save a lot more lives per dollar by doing hundreds of other different things. No question. In fact, TSA has probably on balance killed people by encouraging marginal travelers to drive rather than fly. But on the assumption that the general public isn't going to be receptive to a rational cost/benefit analysis, I'd rather pay more for security that (1) might actually be effective, and (2) doesn't involve naked photographs or sexual assault.