TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Suspended
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has suspended the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs due to a partial government shutdown. Travelers should expect longer lines and delays at airports nationwide until the programs are reinstated.
- The current suspension is a departure from how these programs were handled during the 43-day full government shutdown from October 1 to November 12, 2025, when TSA PreCheck and Global Entry remained operational. - This partial shutdown stems from a failure by Congress and the White House to agree on funding for the Department of Homeland Security, due to disputes over immigration enforcement policies. - As of 2024, over 20 million travelers are enrolled in TSA PreCheck and more than 12.7 million are in Global Entry; all are now directed to standard security and customs lines. - A previous 43-day government shutdown in late 2025 cost the U.S. travel industry an estimated $6.1 billion in economic losses, with an average of 88,000 fewer trips taken each day. - Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the agency is making "tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions" to prioritize the general traveling population. - While Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are considered essential and must work, they will not be paid during the shutdown, a situation that has previously led to increased unscheduled absences. - The cost for a five-year membership is approximately $78 for TSA PreCheck and $120 for Global Entry, with the latter including PreCheck benefits. - There is currently no official timeline from the Department of Homeland Security for the reinstatement of the programs; it is contingent on the resolution of the partial government shutdown.
