This decision follows an earlier statement from the department on Saturday night regarding plans to also halt the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program, although the PreCheck closure was subsequently cancelled.
“As staffing challenges develop, TSA will review operations on an individual basis and adapt as necessary,” stated the agency.
Read more: Essential information about the partial US government shutdown and its consequences
The disturbances in security and customs processes are linked to a partial government shutdown that commenced on February 14, stemming from the inability of Democrats and the White House to reach an agreement on funding legislation for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats are seeking amendments to immigration practices critical to President Donald Trump’s deportation initiative.
These disruptions in security coincide with a significant winter storm expected to impact the East Coast from Sunday into Monday. Nearly 90% of flights scheduled to depart from John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Boston Logan Airport have been cancelled for Monday.
Global Entry is a US Customs and Border Protection initiative that enables pre-approved, low-risk travelers to utilize expedited kiosks upon entering the United States from international destinations.
Also read: Violence in Mexico: United, Southwest, American airlines, and Air Canada suspend flights amidst chaos
While there is no specific government data illustrating the exact time saved for passengers at airports or other entry points using Global Entry, industry experts estimate that it significantly reduces the time spent in customs from an average of 30 to 90 minutes in standard customs lines to just 5 to 10 minutes in Global Entry lines.
Those with Global Entry also benefit from TSA PreCheck. The Department of Homeland Security reported in 2024 that over 20 million Americans have TSA PreCheck, with many individuals holding both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry memberships.
As of mid-Sunday, airport lines appeared mostly unaffected, with security wait times at most international airports recorded as under 15 minutes, according to the TSA’s mobile application.
Blair Perkins, 39, from Dallas, was aware of the Global Entry shutdown news before her return flight from Cancun to Dallas on Sunday morning. After arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, she found the regular line to be lengthy yet efficient.
“We wound around four or five corners to reach the end of the US line,” she recounted.
With Global Entry, she typically clears customs in under five minutes, but on this day, it took around 30 minutes.
Perkins expressed her frustration about the shutdown. “It feels like Washington is using travelers as pawns to pressure the opposing side to comply,” she remarked.
Previously, Homeland Security noted it was instituting “emergency measures to conserve limited resources.” Among the measures outlined were the “termination of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck lanes and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry service, refocusing Department staff on the majority of travelers.” “We are pleased that DHS opted to keep PreCheck operational and avoided a crisis of its own creation,” commented Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the US Travel Association.
Before revealing the PreCheck suspension, Secretary Kristi Noem stated on Saturday night that “shutdowns have significant real-world effects.” She also mentioned that she would discontinue courtesy escorts for members of Congress at airports during the partial government shutdown.
Jean Fay, 54, had a smooth experience with TSA PreCheck at the Baltimore airport for her 6 a.m. Sunday flight back to Texas. She did not learn about the shutdown until she was changing planes in Austin, Texas, en route to Dallas Love Field.
“I received alerts about it as soon as I landed in Austin,” she said.
Airlines for America, a trade organization representing major airlines, stated on Saturday night that “it’s time for Congress to negotiate and reach an agreement.” They also criticized the announcement for being “issued with extremely short notice to travelers, leaving them with little time to make alternative plans.” “A4A is deeply concerned about the suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs, asserting that the traveling public is once again being exploited in a political struggle amid another government shutdown,” the organization asserted.
Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security criticized the Department’s management of airport security following the initial announcement on Saturday night. They accused the administration of “undermining the programs that enhance both travel smoothness and security.” Senator Andy Kim, a Democrat from New Jersey, suggested that Noem’s actions are part of a strategy to divert attention from other issues and shift responsibility.
“This administration is attempting to weaponize our government, intentionally making matters more challenging for the American public as leverage,” he told CNN on Sunday. “And the American people are aware of it.”
