TSA Says PreCheck Still Operational After Suspension Announcement

The Department of Homeland Security had previously said PreCheck and Global Entry services would be suspended during the partial government shutdown.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 6:05pm

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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said on Sunday that its PreCheck program will remain operational, contradicting an earlier announcement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that PreCheck and Global Entry services would be suspended during the ongoing partial government shutdown.

Why it matters

The suspension of PreCheck and Global Entry would have caused significant travel disruptions and delays for registered travelers who rely on these expedited security screening services. The reversal of the suspension announcement by the TSA avoids these potential issues.

The details

The Department of Homeland Security had previously said it was taking 'emergency measures to preserve limited funds,' which included 'ending Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck lanes and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry service.' However, the TSA later stated that 'as staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly,' indicating PreCheck will remain operational.

  • The partial government shutdown began on February 14, 2026.
  • The Department of Homeland Security announced the suspension of PreCheck and Global Entry on February 22, 2026.
  • The TSA announced that PreCheck would remain operational on February 22, 2026.

The players

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The federal agency responsible for security in the transportation system, including airport security screening.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

The federal department responsible for public security, including border protection and immigration enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“Shutdowns have serious real world consequences.”

— Kristi Noem, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security (Department of Homeland Security)

“This administration is trying to weaponize our government, trying to make things intentionally more difficult for the American people as a political leverage. And the American people see that.”

— Andy Kim, U.S. Senator, New Jersey (CNN)

What’s next

The TSA will continue to evaluate staffing constraints and adjust PreCheck operations accordingly as the partial government shutdown continues.

The takeaway

The reversal of the suspension of PreCheck by the TSA avoids potential travel disruptions for registered travelers, but the ongoing partial government shutdown continues to have real-world consequences that impact the public.