u.s. than in guatemala and well taken care of by agents, dana. dana: tell me about how homeland security is looking at ways to fund the border operations. yeah, they re looking at all the options to cover a $1.1 billion funding request. this congress doesn t approve the money. more than $200 million may come from the transportation security administration which has been asked to identify areas that they could cut to provide extra cash for border ops. they could tap into a fund for loose change at airport screenings. you heard that right. it amounts to millions of dollars. $1 million was left behind in 2016 and 2017 in the security lanes. more than 750,000 in 2016 and 675,000 in 2014. so loose change.
should feel very safe and secure that we have a federal air marshall service that does provide that inflight security. reporter: but travelers are never told they ve been followed, raising privacy concerns. it should go without saying that government agents shouldn t be monitoring travelers without a good reason for doing so. reporter: and the air marshals union complains the program is a waste of time. the american public would be better served if these marshals were instead assigned to airport screening and correct-in areas so that active shooter events can be swiftly ended. tom costello, nbc news, washington. another break here tonight. when we come back, the latest evidence that the trump administration has meant big things in the book business. we learn tonight about the next big book on the way. that when the 11th hour continues.
be monitoring travelers without a good reason for doing so. reporter: and the air marshals union complains the program is a waste of time. the american public would be better served if these marshals were instead assigned to airport screening and check-in areas so that active shooter events can be swiftly ended. tom costello, nbc news, washington. another break here tonight. when we come back, the latest evidence that the trump administration has meant big things in the book business. we learn tonight about the next big book on the way. that when the 11th hour continues.
of this program is to ensure passengers and flight crew are protected during air travel and it s not intended to surveil ordinary americans. passengers are selected for surveillance if their foreign travel and other factors raise concerns. including criminal records, curious financial transactions, e-mail or phone numbers that could be tied to terrorism. we recently talked to tsa chief david pikosky about the air marshals. we keep their presence covert because we don t want our adversaries to know they re on particular flights. reporter: but passengers aren t told if they re on the quiet skies list or what happens to the information collected about them. some federal air marshals complain the program is a waste of money. the unions saying the american public would be better served if these marshals were instead assigned to airport screening and check-in chaiareas so activ shooter events can be prevented. it should go without saying government agents shouldn t be monitoring trav
transactions, e-mail or phone numbers that could be tied to terrorism. we recently talked to tsa chief david pakaski about the air marshals. we keep their presence covert. we don t want our adversaries to know they re on flights. reporter: but passengers aren t told they re on the quiet skies list or what happens to the information collected about them. some federal air marshals complain the program is a waste of money. the unions saying the american public would be better served if these marshals were instead assigned to airport screening and checking areas so active shooter events could be swiftly ended. civil libertarians are also concerned. it should go without saying government agents shouldn t be monitoring travelers without a good reason for doing so. reporter: tsa tells us that individuals can remain on this quiet skies list for up to three months after returning to the u.s. from a foreign airport. among those individuals who have already been surveilled and maybe didn