All the quarters, dimes and other coins forgotten by busy travelers at airport security checkpoints last year added up to a big chunk of change for the federal government.
Airline passengers left behind nearly $675,000 in loose change last year, according to the Transportation Security Administration’s 2014 fiscal year report released Monday.
While that’s only a modest jump from last year’s haul of $638,143, it’s a whopping 76% more than the $383,414 collected in 2008.
A TSA spokesperson said the agency attempts to reunite passengers with items forgotten at security checkpoints.
However, if left unclaimed, loose change is documented and turned into the TSA financial office.
In 2005, Congress gave the agency the ability to use the forgotten money to help fund security operations.
