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DHS Suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Amid Partial Shutdown Starting Feb 22

DHS Suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Amid Partial Shutdown Starting Feb 22
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) moved to suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry nationwide starting 6 a.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 22, as a partial shutdown of the agency entered its second week, threatening longer airport lines for tens of millions of vetted travelers theguardian +1. The halt, described as an “emergency measure” to redirect staff, came with less than 48 hours’ public notice and immediately drew fire from airlines and Democrats in Congress theguardian +1.

DHS said the pause would allow the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to “prioritize the general traveling population” during the funding lapse, while also suspending congressional escorts and other “courtesy and special privilege” services at airports and ports of entry washingtonpost +1. The shutdown began Feb. 14 after Congress failed to reach agreement on DHS funding amid a standoff over immigration enforcement changes, leaving much of the department operating without fresh appropriations while most frontline staff continue working without pay washingtonpost +1.

What the Suspension Means for Travelers

The freeze covers expedited security through TSA PreCheck and fast‑track customs processing via Global Entry, programs that together serve more than 40 million vetted travelers, including over 20 million active PreCheck members as of 2024 theguardian. With those lanes effectively folded back into standard screening and inspection, airports have warned of longer queues at both security checkpoints and U.S. arrival halls, especially at major hubs and during peak hours theguardian +1.

It remains unclear how long benefits will be unavailable, but DHS officials have indicated the programs will remain paused until Congress restores full funding washingtonpost. Enrollment centers and interviews are expected to be significantly curtailed or halted, adding to backlogs for new applicants and renewals, though DHS has not yet published detailed guidance npr. Past shutdowns have shown that unpaid but “essential” TSA staff can sustain normal operations only for so long before rising absences begin to slow screening, compounding the impact of losing trusted‑traveler lanes cbsnews.

Political Standoff and Industry Backlash

The suspension quickly became another flashpoint in the broader budget fight. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem argued the move underscored the stakes of the stalemate, saying shutdowns had “serious real world consequences” for both DHS employees and national security cbs8. Republicans have sought to pin blame on Democrats for withholding support for DHS funding until immigration reforms are written into law, while Democrats accused the administration of deliberately targeting popular travel programs to ramp up political pressure washingtonpost +2.

Airlines and travel groups warned that the decision, announced on a busy winter travel weekend, risked avoidable disruption. A coalition represented by Airlines for America said DHS had given travelers “scant warning” and complained that passengers were being used as “a political football amid another government shutdown” theguardian. Industry analysts pointed to earlier shutdowns that cost the travel sector an estimated $6.1 billion in lost spending and delays, warning that a prolonged DHS lapse could produce similar economic fallout theguardian +1.

The Bigger Picture

The targeted shutdown of DHS, and the choice to suspend programs that benefit frequent, higher‑spending travelers, highlighted how budget impasses can ripple far beyond Washington. With other DHS operations such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement and key CBP activities buffered by prior appropriations, the immediate pain is falling on airport security, FEMA travel and convenience services that are most visible to the public washingtonpost. Whether that visibility forces a quick political compromise—or entrenches both sides further—will determine how long U.S. flyers face slower lines and how deeply the travel economy feels the latest funding fight.

theguardian Reuters; washingtonpost Washington Post; npr NBC News; cbs8 NPR; cbsnews Travel‑ and shutdown‑impact analyses; thehill AP News.