Global Entry Tsa Precheck Shutdown Narrows After Pushback, Global Entry Remains Closed
The Department of Homeland Security announced Sunday that the global entry tsa precheck shutdown will keep Global Entry closed for as long as a partial government shutdown remains in effect. The announcement followed an earlier plan to suspend both Global Entry and the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program that was then revised to spare PreCheck.
DHS reverses course on PreCheck
DHS said Sunday that the Global Entry program would be shut down as long as the partial government shutdown remains in effect. The announcement came after the department said Saturday night that it planned to shut down both Global Entry and the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program, but DHS cancelled the PreCheck closure. The agency included a brief operational caveat: “As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly. ”
Global Entry Tsa Precheck Shutdown Details
The partial government shutdown began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have been demanding changes to immigration operations that the statement described as core to President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign. the Global Entry suspension will remain in effect as long as the shutdown continues.
Impact on airport security lanes
The programs are designed to help speed registered travelers through security lines, and suspending them could cause headaches for fliers. Images from airports underscore the strain: people walk through TSA PreCheck at Dallas Love Field on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, photographed by Jamie Stengle, and people stand by a board giving information on wait times at security checkpoints at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. A separate file image shows U. S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shaking hands with Transportation Security Administration Officer Monica Degro at a news conference at Harry Reid International Airport on Nov. 22, 2025, photographed by Ronda Churchill.
A4A president Chris Sununu statement
The airlines trade group’s president and CEO Chris Sununu issued a sharply worded statement. He said, “A4A 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. 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. ”
Sununu also invoked the effects of the prior shutdown last fall: “During last fall’s 43-day shutdown—the longest in U. S. history—more than 9, 000 flights were delayed or cancelled, significantly impacting six million travelers and countless deliveries. In sum, that shutdown caused $6. 1 billion of losses across the travel industry and related sectors. ” He added, “It’s past time for Congress to get to the table and get a deal done that ensures TSA can fully operate and their frontline employees can be paid for the important work they do to keep our skies secure. ”
The statement page also included other items listed for the record: “THE TIME TO MODERNIZE IS NOW! LEARN MORE. ” It noted the 2026 Nuts and Bolts Award Presented to American Airlines’ Stacy Morrissey and Robert Ireland, Formerly of Airlines for America, and referenced Protecting Airline Credit Cards at the State Level.
Flight cancellations and winter storm
Security disruptions are occurring as a major winter storm was forecast 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 have been canceled for Monday, amplifying pressure on travelers already facing potential slowdowns tied to the global entry tsa precheck shutdown.
Officials and industry leaders have warned that continued uncertainty over funding and staffing will shape how TSA evaluates operations moving forward, and that the Global Entry suspension will remain tied to the duration of the partial government shutdown.