Homeland Security Suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Programs

Shutdown leads to suspension of expedited airport security programs

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has suspended the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs as the partial government shutdown continues. The programs are designed to help speed registered travelers through security lines, but Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the shutdown has forced them to prioritize the general traveling population at airports and ports of entry.

Why it matters

The suspension of these expedited security programs could cause significant delays and inconvenience for frequent flyers who rely on them to quickly get through airport checkpoints. This is another example of the real-world impacts the ongoing government shutdown is having on the public.

The details

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem cited the government shutdown as the reason for suspending the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs, saying 'shutdowns have serious real world consequences.' Noem said TSA and Customs and Border Protection are now focused on serving the general traveling population rather than providing the 'courtesy and special privilege escorts' of the expedited security programs.

  • The partial government shutdown began on February 14, 2026.

The players

Kristi Noem

The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

House Committee on Homeland Security

A committee in the U.S. House of Representatives that criticized the administration's decision to suspend the airport security programs.

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What’s next

The suspension of the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs will likely continue until the partial government shutdown is resolved.

The takeaway

This decision highlights how the ongoing political gridlock in Washington is having real impacts on the daily lives of American travelers, underscoring the need for lawmakers to find a compromise to end the government shutdown.