This follows the department’s statement on Saturday night regarding the planned shutdown of both the Global Entry program and the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program, although the DHS later reversed the decision on PreCheck.
“As staffing limitations arise, TSA will assess operations on a case-by-case basis and make adjustments as needed,” the agency stated.
Read more: What you should know about the ongoing partial U.S. government shutdown and its effects
The issues at security and customs checkpoints are a result of a partial government shutdown that began on February 14, following a failure to reach a funding agreement for the Department of Homeland Security between Democrats and the White House. Democrats have been seeking changes to immigration policies central to President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda.
This disruption in security operations coincides with a significant winter storm expected to impact the East Coast from Sunday to Monday. On that day, 90% of scheduled flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Boston Logan Airport have been cancelled.
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection initiative allowing pre-approved, low-risk travelers to use expedited kiosks for entry into the United States from international destinations.
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While specific government data on the time saved by Global Entry users at airports is scarce, travel industry experts estimate that it reduces customs wait times from an average of 30 to 90 minutes in standard lines to about 5 to 10 minutes in Global Entry lines.
Individuals with Global Entry also gain access to TSA PreCheck. The Department of Homeland Security noted in 2024 that over 20 million Americans held TSA PreCheck, with many of those having overlapping Global Entry memberships.
As of midday Sunday, airport lines appeared largely unaffected, with security wait times reported as under 15 minutes at most international airports, according to the TSA’s mobile app.
Blair Perkins, 39, from Dallas, was aware of the Global Entry shutdown before returning home from Cancun on Sunday morning. Upon arrival at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, she found the regular line lengthy but relatively quick-moving.
“We wound around about four or five different corners to reach the end of the U.S. line,” she mentioned.
Normally, it takes her less than five minutes to clear customs with Global Entry, but on Sunday it took around 30 minutes.
Perkins expressed her frustration regarding the shutdown, saying, “It feels like Washington is using travelers as a pawn to try to persuade the other side to do what they want.”
Homeland Security had previously said they were implementing “emergency measures to conserve limited resources.” Among these measures were the elimination of TSA PreCheck lanes and Global Entry services, refocusing Department personnel on the majority of travelers. “We are relieved that DHS has opted to keep PreCheck operational and avoid a self-created crisis,” commented Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.
Before announcing the PreCheck suspension, Secretary Kristi Noem stated on Saturday night that “shutdowns carry serious consequences in the real world.” Furthermore, she indicated that she would stop providing courtesy escorts for members of Congress at airports during the partial government shutdown.
Jean Fay, 54, did not encounter any issues using TSA PreCheck at Baltimore airport for her 6 a.m. Sunday flight back to Texas. She only learned about the shutdown while changing planes in Austin, Texas, on her way to Dallas Love Field.
Airlines for America, a trade association representing major airlines, echoed discontent on Saturday night, asserting it is “time for Congress to convene and reach an agreement.” They criticized the announcement for being “issued with extremely short notice, providing little time for travelers to adjust their plans.” “A4A is deeply concerned about the suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs and that travelers are again being used as political leverage amid another government shutdown,” the organization remarked.
Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security voiced their concerns over the management of airport security following the initial announcement on Saturday night. They accused the administration of “undermining the programs that enhance travel efficiency and security.” Senator Andy Kim, a Democrat from New Jersey, asserted that Noem’s actions are part of a strategy to distract from other significant issues and shift the blame.
“This administration is attempting to weaponize our government, making life unnecessarily difficult for the American people as a means of political leverage,” he told CNN on Sunday. “And the American people are aware of it.”
