Tsa Precheck reversal after confusion over tsa precheck suspension
DALLAS — The Transportation Security Administration said Sunday that the Global Entry program would be shut down as long as the partial government shutdown remains in effect, and an earlier move to close PreCheck was reversed. The exchange left travelers uncertain about tsa precheck operations even as agencies signaled they would adjust staffing case by case.
Tsa Precheck confusion and reversal
The announcement followed a Department of Homeland Security statement late Saturday that it planned to shut down both Global Entry and the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program, but DHS cancelled the PreCheck closure. The TSA added: "As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly. "
Global Entry shutdown details and timeline
TSA said Sunday that Global Entry would be shut down for the duration of the partial government shutdown, which began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The context for the impasse includes Democrats demanding changes to immigration operations that the article describes as core to President Donald Trump's deportation campaign.
Winter storm and flight cancellations
The security disruptions coincided with a major winter storm slated to hit the East Coast from Sunday into Monday. Nine out of 10 flights going out of John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Boston Logan Airport were canceled for Monday, creating a sharp travel disruption on top of the shutdown-driven changes.
Lines and wait times at airports
Despite the announcements, airport lines seemed largely unaffected through midday Sunday, with security check line wait times listed as under 15 minutes for most international airports on TSA's mobile app. The article notes there is no specific government data showing how much time passengers save at airports or other ports of entry from Global Entry, but travel industry experts estimate that Global Entry cuts the amount of time passengers get through customs from an average of 30 to 90 minutes for regular customs lines to 5 to 10 minutes in Global Entry lines.
Passenger reactions and quoted remarks
Amy Wainscott, 42, flew from the Destin-Fort Walton Beach airport in Florida to Dallas Love Field on Sunday and said she didn't hear about the shutdown until she had already gone through TSA's PreCheck. "When we got to the airport this morning everything was working like usual, " she said. "It didn't seem like anything had changed. "
Jean Fay, 54, said she had no issues going through TSA PreCheck at the Baltimore airport for her 6 a. m. Sunday flight back home to Texas. She said she didn't hear about the shutdown until she was changing planes in Austin, Texas, on her way to Dallas Love Field. "When I landed in Austin I started getting the alerts, " she said.
The story carried exclusive coverage credits for Lisa Desjardins and the politics team and named Ali Swenson and Jamie Stengle as contributors. The article text also included the line: "Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. "
What Global Entry offers travelers
Global Entry is described as a U. S. Customs and Border Protection program that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to use expedited kiosks when entering the United States from abroad. The piece notes that those who have Global Entry also receive TSA PreCheck and that the Department of Homeland Security said in 2024 that more than 20 million Americans had TSA PreCheck, with millions of those Americans holding overlapping Global Entry memberships.
Officials signaled that, amid the partial government shutdown and staffing constraints, operations would be evaluated and adjusted case by case as the situation develops.
