The Department of Homeland Security has restarted Global Entry, a trusted-traveler program operated by Customs and Border Protection, after the partial government shutdown caused widespread chaos at major airports last weekend.
The shutdown directly affects DHS funding, thereby leaving employees at the Transportation Security Administration without full paychecks. The lapse in funding started Feb. 14 after Democrats refused to approve the department’s budget unless Republicans caved to their immigration demands. The funding stalemate has yet to break.
The Global Entry program, which permits expedited processing for American citizens and legal permanent residents upon their arrival in the United States, reopened at 5 a.m. Wednesday.
“As DHS continually evaluates measures it can take amidst the Democrats’ continued shutdown of the department, DHS will be reactivating Global Entry on March 11th at 5:00 AM ET,” a DHS spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “We are working hard to alleviate the disruptions to travelers caused by the Democrats’ shutdown.”
In line with the Trump administration’s messaging, the DHS has blamed Democrats in Congress for the shutdown in past statements.
The DHS paused Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, another trusted-traveler program used to expedite the airport security process, late last month.
Shortly after the DHS announced the temporary pause, the TSA said the PreCheck lanes remained “operational with no change for the traveling public” and that the agency would “adjust operations accordingly” as staffing constraints materialized.
Many TSA agents have been absent from work, causing major delays at airports. On Sunday, passengers were met with hourslong security lines at the main airports in Houston and New Orleans.
Over 300 TSA employees have left the agency since the latest shutdown started, CBS News reported.
There have also been high call-out rates at airports, including William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. That was one of the airports where travelers saw longer-than-normal security lines.
DEMOCRATS FACE GROWING PRESSURE TO FUND DHS AMID AIRPORT LINES AND SECURITY CRISES
About 100,000 workers are not being paid despite being required to show up for their shifts, White House officials said Monday.
The recent chaos seen at airports may persist until Democrats and Republicans agree on a deal to fund the DHS. Despite the lapse, most of its immigration enforcement operations are still being conducted. If the shutdown lasts considerably longer, the immigration agencies may be affected.
