TSA PreCheck Suspended: DHS Halts TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Amid Government Shutdown — What Every Traveler Needs to Know Right Now

Yes, TSA PreCheck is suspended. As of 6:00 AM ET, Sunday, February 22, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security has officially halted both the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs — a historic and unprecedented move that affects more than 20 million enrolled American travelers. The suspension comes as a partial government shutdown enters its second week, and it lands on one of the worst possible days: a historic blizzard slamming the Northeast and thousands of flights already canceled.

Why Is TSA PreCheck Suspended? The Government Shutdown Explained

The DHS funding shutdown started February 14, 2026, as the White House and Senate Democrats negotiated changes to DHS and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency following the deaths of two people during a federal crackdown on undocumented immigrants in Minneapolis. Personnel at TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard are not being paid, though most continue working because their jobs are deemed critical.

Despite ICE being at the center of the funding fight, it has been minimally impacted because it already secured $75 billion in last year's spending law to continue operating through 2029. Instead, agencies like TSA are bearing the brunt — with roughly 61,000 TSA employees, about 95% of the workforce, deemed essential and required to keep working without pay.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said: "This is the third time that Democrat politicians have shut down this department during the 119th Congress. Shutdowns have serious real-world consequences, not just for the men and women of DHS and their families who go without a paycheck, but it endangers our national security."

What Does the TSA PreCheck Suspension Mean for You at the Airport?

The suspension means TSA PreCheck lanes at US airports are closed, requiring all enrolled travelers to use standard security screening. Officers previously assigned to process Global Entry travelers are being reassigned to process all other arriving international passengers, meaning longer waits at customs and passport control as well.

TSA and FEMA entered emergency operating status at 6:00 AM ET Sunday. FEMA has suspended all non-disaster-related responses. All congressional police escorts at airports have also been suspended.

Is This the First Time TSA PreCheck Has Been Suspended During a Shutdown?

Yes — this is a dramatic departure from how DHS has operated during every previous government shutdown. Both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry have typically continued to run uninterrupted even when Washington has ground to a stalemate, including during last fall's record-breaking 43-day shutdown. There have been few reports of major security backups during prior shutdowns, aside from a brief flurry of delays in Houston last fall.

That prior 43-day shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — cost the travel industry and broader economy an estimated $6.1 billion, according to Airlines for America.

Industry Reaction: Airlines and Travelers Furious

Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu said the group is "deeply concerned that TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs are being suspended and that the traveling public will be, once again, used as a political football amid another government shutdown." He added: "The announcement was issued with extremely short notice to travelers, giving them little time to plan accordingly, which is especially troubling at this time of record air travel."

Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi called it "purposely punishing the American people," stating: "TSA PreCheck and Global Entry reduce airport lines and ease the burden on DHS staff who are working without pay because of Trump's abuse of the Department."

Worst Possible Day: Blizzard + Shutdown + PreCheck Suspended

Today's timing is brutal. The TSA PreCheck suspension is hitting simultaneously with:

• A historic New York blizzard dumping up to 24 inches across the Northeast
• 2,700+ flights already canceled at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark
• A peak Sunday travel day with record passenger volumes

The move comes just months after last year's federal government shutdown affected air travel and dented bookings, according to airline executives — and the industry is now bracing for another wave of delays, long lines, and cascading disruptions.

What Should You Do Right Now If You're Flying Today?

• Arrive at least 3 hours early for domestic flights, 4 hours for international
• Your TSA PreCheck number does nothing today — join the standard security line
• Global Entry kiosks are not operational — expect standard customs processing
• Check your flight status first — thousands of Sunday and Monday flights are already canceled
• Contact your airline for fee-free rebooking — most major carriers have issued travel waivers
• Do not go to JFK, LGA, or EWR without confirming your specific flight is operating

DHS stated that both TSA and FEMA will resume normal operations — including the restoration of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry — when the government shutdown concludes. No timeline has been given for when that may happen.