DHS Suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Programs Amid Partial Government Shutdown

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Saturday it will suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs beginning Sunday at 6 a.m. EST, as the partial government shutdown enters its second week. The move affects millions of travelers who rely on these expedited security screening programs at U.S. airports.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem placed blame squarely on Democratic lawmakers for the shutdown, which has left the sprawling department without funding since February 14.

“This is the third time that Democrat politicians have shut down this department during the 119th Congress,” Noem said in a statement. “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.”

The suspension comes at a particularly challenging time, as a major storm system is expected to hit the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, potentially complicating both travel and emergency response efforts. According to Noem, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will halt all non-disaster-related response to prioritize its resources for actual disasters.

DHS officials described the suspension of expedited travel programs as part of “tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions” aimed at mitigating impacts from the funding lapse. The department will prioritize general travelers at airports and ports of entry while suspending what Noem termed “courtesy and special privilege escorts.”

The shutdown impacts the nation’s third-largest Cabinet agency, which employs approximately 272,000 workers. According to the department’s September 2025 contingency plan, roughly 90% of DHS employees are expected to continue working during the shutdown, many without pay. This includes personnel at Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Secret Service.

Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized the decision to suspend the travel programs. Representative Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, accused the administration of “purposely punishing the American people.”

“This is Trump and Kristi Noem purposely punishing the American people and using them as pawns for their sadistic political games,” Thompson said. “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.”

The current political impasse represents the third government shutdown in less than six months. While most federal agencies have secured funding, DHS remains the only department without appropriations. The stalemate emerged after Democrats withdrew from a bipartisan agreement in response to deaths of two U.S. citizens during anti-ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis, where federal law enforcement agents were involved.

Travel industry experts warn that suspending PreCheck and Global Entry programs could significantly increase wait times at security checkpoints across the nation’s busiest airports. These programs, which require background checks and biometric data collection, allow pre-approved travelers to move through security screening more quickly.

Under normal circumstances, TSA PreCheck costs $78 for a five-year membership, while Global Entry costs $100 for five years. Both programs have seen substantial growth in recent years, with millions of Americans enrolled to avoid lengthy security procedures.

As the shutdown continues, travelers are advised to arrive earlier for flights and prepare for potentially longer security screening processes. The DHS has not indicated when the expedited travel programs might be reinstated, leaving that contingent on Congress reaching a funding agreement.