TSA PreCheck Restored After Reversal
The Department of Homeland Security reversed its decision to suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry within hours of the initial announcement on Sunday. The programs remain operational for frequent travelers despite the ongoing government shutdown. The abrupt policy reversal came after heavy criticism from elected officials and the traveling public.
- The initial DHS announcement cited the government shutdown as the reason for suspending the programs, stating it was necessary to "refocus Department personnel on the majority of travelers." - The reversal for TSA PreCheck was officially announced Sunday morning, just hours after the suspension was set to begin at 6 a.m. Eastern Time. - While TSA PreCheck was quickly restored, the suspension of Global Entry, which serves over 10 million international travelers, remained in effect. - Criticism of the move was swift, with the trade group Airlines for America stating the traveling public was being "used as a political football." The U.S. Travel Association called the decision a potential "crisis of its own making." - Democratic lawmakers accused the administration of "kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure" and "purposely punishing the American people." - The programs are widely used by frequent flyers, with TSA PreCheck having more than 20 million active members as of 2024. - In addition to suspending traveler programs, the DHS also suspended courtesy security escorts for members of Congress. - This was the first time TSA PreCheck and Global Entry benefits were suspended nationwide during a government shutdown; in previous shutdowns, only new enrollments were sometimes affected.
