TSA PreCheck And Global Entry Suspended Nationwide

Travelers across the United States are bracing for longer airport lines and increased uncertainty after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suspended the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs nationwide, beginning at 6 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The abrupt halt, confirmed by DHS officials and widely reported by outlets including the Associated Press, CNN, and The Washington Post, comes amid a partial government shutdown that has entered its second week with no resolution in sight. The two programs, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, have long been the gold standard for expedited airport security and customs processing for millions of frequent flyers. TSA PreCheck allows pre-vetted U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to move swiftly through airport security by skipping some of the more time-consuming screening procedures. Global Entry, meanwhile, is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection initiative that speeds up re-entry for international travelers—including citizens from nearly two dozen other countries—through automated kiosks and reduced paperwork. As of 2024, more than 20 million people were enrolled in TSA PreCheck and over 12 million in Global Entry, according to the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection. But as of Sunday, the perks of these trusted-traveler programs have vanished. Passengers who previously enjoyed breezing through security lines or skipping lengthy customs queues now find themselves funneled into standard lines with everyone else. The result? Longer wait times, more congestion, and a collective groan from the traveling public—especially as a powerful winter storm barrels toward the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, threatening to compound travel woes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged the gravity of the situation in a statement distributed to multiple news outlets. "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," she said. Noem stressed that TSA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are now "prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts." She added, "The American people depend on this department every day, and we are making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions to mitigate the damage inflicted by these politicians." The partial government shutdown began on February 14, 2026, after lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement for DHS. At the heart of the impasse are fierce disagreements over immigration enforcement policy. Democrats have demanded new restrictions on agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and CBP, particularly in the wake of the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal officers in Minneapolis earlier this year. Republicans, for their part, have resisted these changes and have pushed for stricter enforcement against so-called sanctuary cities. As the shutdown drags on, its effects are rippling far beyond Capitol Hill. According to the TSA, about 95% of its employees—roughly 63,000 agents—are classified as "essential" and must continue working, even as their paychecks are withheld. The same is true for personnel at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Coast Guard. The shutdown affects about 13% of the total federal civilian workforce within DHS, according to CBS News. ICE and CBP staff, however, are continuing their paid work under funding previously approved by Congress. For travelers, the most immediate impact is at the airport. The suspension of TSA PreCheck means that even those who paid between $76.75 and $85 for a five-year membership are now required to join standard security lines. The situation is similar for Global Entry members, who paid $120 for five years of expedited customs clearance. The uncertainty is particularly acute for international passengers, as much of the Global Entry process is automated but still requires staff oversight. The end result, as CNN reports, is likely to be increased wait times at customs and passport control—especially as the Northeast braces for a major winter storm. The move has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and some members of Congress. The House Committee on Homeland Security, led by ranking member Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, blasted the administration on social media, saying, "These nitwits are at it again," and accusing President Trump and Secretary Noem of "purposely punishing the American people and using them as pawns for their sadistic political games." The committee further charged that the administration was "kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure" and "ruining your travel on purpose." Thompson also pointed out that 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 and killing of American citizens." Meanwhile, the administration insists that the suspension of the programs is unavoidable. Secretary Noem has repeatedly emphasized that, in the absence of new funding, DHS must make "tough but necessary" decisions to ensure the safety and security of the traveling public. She also pointed to the looming winter storm as a reason for FEMA to halt all non-disaster responses and focus exclusively on disaster preparedness and response in the affected regions. For TSA agents and other essential DHS employees, the shutdown means working without pay—an increasingly difficult prospect as the stalemate continues. According to TSA, the longer the shutdown lasts, the more frequent employee call-outs become, leading to even longer wait times at checkpoints and a greater risk of missed or delayed flights. This cascading effect, TSA warns, could have a "negative impact on the American economy" as travel disruptions ripple outward. This is the first known nationwide suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry benefits during a government shutdown. In previous shutdowns, enrollment operations were disrupted and airport lines grew longer due to staffing shortages, but the expedited security and customs lanes themselves remained open. The current suspension marks a significant escalation in the impact of the DHS shutdown on the traveling public. As Congress remains in recess until February 23, there is little hope for an immediate resolution. The White House and Senate Democrats remain locked in negotiations over DHS funding and immigration policy, with neither side showing signs of backing down. In the meantime, travelers are left to navigate the fallout—longer lines, more uncertainty, and the loss of programs that, until now, made air travel just a little bit easier. With the shutdown showing no signs of ending and a major winter storm bearing down on the Northeast, the nation’s airports are set for a challenging week. For now, patience—and perhaps a bit of luck—may be the best advice for anyone trying to catch a flight.