BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it is suspending the expedited airport screening programs TSA PreCheck and Global Entry as a partial government shutdown stretches into its second week, a move expected to slow security lines at airports across the country and disrupt travel for millions of passengers.
The decision affects two of the most widely used trusted traveler programs administered by the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Both initiatives allow pre-approved, low-risk travelers to move more quickly through airport checkpoints and, in the case of Global Entry, through customs processing when returning to the United States from abroad.
Under normal operations, TSA PreCheck permits enrolled travelers to use designated security lanes where they are not required to remove shoes, belts or light jackets, and can keep laptops and compliant liquids in their carry-on bags. Global Entry members use automated kiosks to bypass traditional customs lines at participating airports. Together, the programs are designed to ease congestion, improve efficiency and focus security resources on higher-risk travelers.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement that the suspension underscores the tangible consequences of a lapse in federal funding.
“Shutdowns have serious real world consequences,” Noem said, adding that TSA and Customs and Border Protection are “prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts.”
While officials did not immediately specify how long the suspension would last, the move signals a shift in operational priorities as the department contends with constrained resources. Without funding certainty, agencies are required to scale back certain discretionary services and redirect personnel to core security functions.
The partial shutdown began Feb. 14 after negotiations between congressional Democrats and the White House failed to produce an agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security. At the center of the impasse are disputes over immigration enforcement policies that form a key component of President Donald Trump’s deportation strategy. Democrats have pressed for changes to immigration operations and oversight provisions, while the administration has defended its approach as necessary to maintain border security and enforce federal law.
The suspension of trusted traveler programs is likely to have an immediate impact at major hubs, where PreCheck lanes often process thousands of passengers daily. Industry analysts say that without the segregation of low-risk travelers into expedited lanes, standard checkpoints could face increased congestion, particularly during peak travel periods and in airports already grappling with staffing pressures.
Frequent business travelers and international passengers may be especially affected. Enrollment in TSA PreCheck and Global Entry has grown steadily over the past decade, with millions of Americans paying application fees and undergoing background checks in exchange for faster screening and shorter wait times. Travel advocacy groups have long argued that the programs enhance overall security efficiency by allowing officers to concentrate resources on unknown or higher-risk travelers.
Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security sharply criticized the suspension, accusing the administration of unnecessarily disrupting travel.
In posts on social media, committee Democrats said the administration was “kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure” and alleged that officials were “ruining your travel on purpose.” They argued that the decision would erode traveler confidence and penalize families and workers caught in the middle of a political standoff.
A spokesperson for Homeland Security countered that the department must focus on essential security operations during a funding lapse and that certain programs cannot continue at full capacity without congressional appropriations.
Airports and airlines are now bracing for potential ripple effects. Longer security lines can lead to delayed departures, missed connections and increased operational strain on carriers already managing winter weather disruptions and fluctuating passenger volumes. Airport authorities in several major cities have advised travelers to arrive earlier than usual and monitor official updates.
The suspension also highlights the broader economic implications of government shutdowns. Beyond airport screening, thousands of Homeland Security employees — including TSA officers and Border Patrol agents — are either furloughed or required to work without immediate pay, depending on their roles. Historically, such shutdowns have strained morale and complicated workforce retention across federal agencies.
As negotiations continue on Capitol Hill, travelers face uncertainty over how long expedited screening benefits will remain unavailable. For now, federal officials say the priority is maintaining baseline security at checkpoints and ports of entry, even if it means suspending programs that many have come to view as routine conveniences.
Until lawmakers reach a funding agreement, the nation’s air travelers may need to budget additional time — and patience — as the political stalemate in Washington plays out at airport security lines nationwide.
Original article
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