Government Shutdown Impacts TSA and Global Entry Programs

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is set to pause TSA prescreening and Global Entry starting Sunday due to the ongoing partial government shutdown.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized Democrats on Saturday, claiming they are responsible for creating “serious real-world consequences” through the government shutdown. She pointed out that this marks the third time a Democratic politician has forced a shutdown during this Congress. “A government shutdown has serious real-world consequences—not just for the employees of DHS who are working without pay and their families,” she stated, adding it jeopardizes national security as well.

The decision to halt these expedited security measures was first reported by The Washington Post, stating changes would begin at 6 a.m. ET on Sunday.

Noem referred to the decisions being made as “tough but necessary” to lessen the impact of the shutdown, emphasizing that TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will prioritize regular travelers at airports and ports. She also mentioned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will suspend all non-disaster-related activities to focus on pressing emergencies, particularly with a major storm anticipated to hit the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi, rebuked the Trump administration for the shutdown, calling it “stupid” to target the American public and suggesting that programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry help reduce security lines at airports. He urged an immediate reversal of the decision, describing the situation as an abuse of power that affects many.

This government shutdown, the third in less than six months, commenced on February 14 after lawmakers could not reach an agreement on funding tied to President Trump’s immigration policies. Following the recent deaths of two Americans due to federal law enforcement actions during protests, Democrats pulled out of a bipartisan funding plan, leaving DHS without federal funding.

DHS, which employs around 272,000 people, is one of the largest Cabinet agencies. According to September’s plans, about 90% of its employees will continue working, many without pay.

DHS oversees various agencies including CBP, TSA, FEMA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Secret Service.