The Department of Homeland Security has paused TSA PreCheck and CBP Global Entry, two trusted-traveler programs used to expedite airport security, as a partial government shutdown over Democrats’ objections to federal immigration enforcement enters its second week.
DHS stated the services were suspended to “refocus Department personnel on the majority of travelers” at U.S. airports. The move took effect at 6 a.m. Sunday.
It was one of three actions that the department took in order to preserve limited funds amid the latest government shutdown.
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DHS is also pausing all non-disaster-related FEMA response efforts to prioritize disaster response and suspending all police escorts for members of Congress at airports.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed the decision was partly influenced by this weekend’s winter storm that is impacting the East Coast.
“Shutdowns have 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,” Noem said in a statement. “The American people depend on this department every day, and we are making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions to mitigate the damage inflicted by these politicians.”
TSA later said its PreCheck lanes remain “operational with no change for the traveling public,” contradicting Noem’s statement. “As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly,” the agency posted on X while clarifying that the escorts for members of Congress are suspended.
It remains unclear whether CBP Global Entry was affected by the department’s suspension.
Tensions between the Trump administration and Congress were made worse when Democrats and the White House failed to reach a deal on legislation to fund DHS for the rest of the current fiscal year. The key sticking point in negotiations was the president’s immigration agenda, which has drawn scrutiny in recent weeks after two U.S. citizens in Minnesota were killed in officer-involved shootings.
Following the public outcry, Democrats vowed to withhold funding from Immigration and Customs Enforcement if significant changes were not made to the immigration operations.
In response to DHS’s suspension of TSA PreCheck and CBP Global Entry, Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee claimed the administration is “punishing travelers” and “ruining your travel on purpose” by “kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure.”
Airlines for America also criticized DHS over suspending the two programs, arguing the move left “little time” for travelers to adjust their plans accordingly.
“It’s past time for Congress to get to the table and get a deal done that ensures TSA can fully operate and their frontline employees can be paid for the important work they do to keep our skies secure,” Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu said.
The U.S. Travel Association blamed both parties for failing to avert another government shutdown by disagreeing on a funding resolution.
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“Travelers should be prioritized, not leveraged,” the group said. “Travel is the gateway to the American economy and Americans should not have their mobility, security or travel experience diminished because elected leaders fail to resolve their differences.”
President Donald Trump is planning to blame Democrats over the drawn-out shutdown during his State of the Union address on Tuesday. The event marks the first State of the Union of his second term. Trump delivered a similar address to a joint session of Congress last year, but that wasn’t officially considered a State of the Union.
