DHS will suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry as shutdown continues – The Washington Post

The Looming Threat to Trusted Traveler Programs

Millions of American travelers who have grown accustomed to breezing through airport security and customs lines could soon face a jarring return to long queues and heightened travel anxiety. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a stark warning that a prolonged government shutdown would force the suspension of new enrollments and application processing for its flagship Trusted Traveler Programs (TTPs), including the widely popular TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. This potential disruption threatens to dismantle a key component of the nation’s aviation infrastructure, impacting not only the convenience of frequent flyers but also the operational efficiency and security posture of airports nationwide.

As lawmakers in Washington remain locked in a budgetary stalemate, the critical functions of federal agencies hang in the balance. While front-line security officers are deemed “essential” and would be required to work—initially without pay—the administrative backbone that supports these vital travel programs is considered “non-essential.” Consequently, the enrollment centers that interview applicants, process background checks, and issue final approvals for both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry would be forced to close their doors. The move would create an immediate freeze on the pipeline of new members, stranding hundreds of thousands of applicants in bureaucratic limbo and generating a massive backlog that could take months, if not longer, to clear once funding is restored.

This development is more than an inconvenience; it represents a significant setback for the risk-based security strategy that DHS has cultivated for over a decade. By pre-screening and vetting millions of low-risk individuals, these programs allow the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to focus their limited resources on higher-risk or unknown travelers. The suspension of new enrollments effectively chokes off this system, threatening to push a growing number of passengers back into standard security lines and undermining the very efficiency the programs were designed to create.

Understanding TSA PreCheck and Global Entry: The Pillars of Modern Expedited Travel

For the uninitiated, the potential loss of these programs might seem like a minor issue. But for the more than 25 million Americans enrolled in them, the benefits are a fundamental part of their travel experience. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry have transformed the often-dreaded airport journey into a more predictable and streamlined process, saving a collective millions of hours for business and leisure travelers alike.

TSA PreCheck: Expediting Domestic Security

Launched in 2011, TSA PreCheck is a program designed to expedite the security screening process at more than 200 U.S. airports. Members who have undergone a background check and provided biometric information (fingerprints) are granted access to dedicated security lanes. The core benefits are significant:

• Keep Your Shoes On: Members are not required to remove shoes, belts, or light jackets.
• Electronics Stay Packed: Laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids can remain in their carry-on bags.
• Faster Wait Times: The TSA reports that in recent months, 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than 10 minutes in line.

With over 15 million active members and participation from more than 80 domestic and international airlines, the program has become an indispensable tool for frequent flyers. The application process involves an online form and a brief, in-person appointment at an enrollment center for a background check and fingerprinting, all for a fee of around $78 to $85 for a five-year membership. Its success is rooted in its simplicity and tangible time-saving benefits, making the prospect of its suspension a source of major concern for a significant portion of the flying public.

Global Entry: Streamlining International Arrivals

Global Entry, operated by CBP, is a more comprehensive program aimed at expediting the customs and immigration process for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon their arrival in the United States. While its primary function is to bypass long processing queues at passport control, its membership also includes the full benefits of TSA PreCheck, making it a two-for-one solution for international travelers.

The advantages of Global Entry include:

• Automated Kiosks: Members proceed directly to Global Entry kiosks in the immigration hall, where they present their machine-readable passport or permanent resident card, scan their fingerprints, and complete a customs declaration on-screen.
• Reduced Wait Times: The kiosk process takes mere minutes, allowing travelers to avoid long, winding lines that can often stretch for an hour or more during peak arrival times.
• Included TSA PreCheck: As a significant bonus, Global Entry membership automatically makes a traveler eligible for TSA PreCheck, consolidating two powerful travel benefits under a single application.

With over 10 million members, Global Entry is a critical tool for international business travelers, airline crews, and global tourists. The vetting process is more rigorous than that for TSA PreCheck, requiring a detailed online application and a formal interview with a CBP officer at an enrollment center, typically located at major international airports. The $100 fee for a five-year membership is widely considered a bargain given the dual benefits. A shutdown would not only halt new applications but also cancel all scheduled interviews, pushing applicants’ timelines back indefinitely.

The Mechanics of a Shutdown: Why Are These Programs at Risk?

A common question arises whenever the closure of these popular programs is threatened: since travelers pay a fee to enroll, aren’t they self-funded? The answer lies in the complex and often counterintuitive web of federal appropriations and government accounting. While it is true that user fees from TSA PreCheck and Global Entry applications generate hundreds of millions of dollars, this revenue does not go into a protected account to directly pay the salaries of the employees who run the programs.

Essential vs. Non-Essential Personnel: A Critical Distinction

During a government shutdown, federal law—specifically the Antideficiency Act—prohibits federal agencies from spending money that has not been appropriated by Congress. Agencies must then divide their workforce into two categories: “essential” and “non-essential.”

• Essential Personnel: These are employees whose work is deemed necessary to protect human life and property. In the context of DHS, this includes front-line TSA officers screening passengers at checkpoints, CBP officers inspecting travelers and cargo at ports of entry, and Secret Service agents. These employees are required to report to work, but they do not receive a paycheck until the shutdown ends and Congress passes back-pay legislation.
• Non-Essential Personnel: This category includes a vast number of federal workers whose jobs, while important, are not considered imminently necessary for safety and security. This often includes administrative staff, policy advisors, public affairs officers, and, critically, the personnel who staff and operate the Trusted Traveler Program enrollment centers. These employees are furloughed, meaning they are sent home and are legally barred from performing their work duties.

The Funding Paradox

The fees collected for TTP applications are deposited into the U.S. Treasury’s general fund. The salaries for the federal employees and contractors who review applications, conduct interviews, and manage the program’s IT infrastructure are paid out of the agency’s annual operating budget, which is approved by Congress. When that congressional appropriation lapses during a shutdown, the legal authority to pay those salaries disappears, regardless of how much revenue the program itself generates. This bureaucratic distinction is the sole reason why a seemingly self-sufficient program grinds to a halt. The money is there, but the legal mechanism to spend it is frozen, forcing the furlough of the very staff needed to keep the enrollment process running.

The Ripple Effect: Widespread Consequences for Travelers and the Aviation Industry

The suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry enrollment is not a siloed event. Its impact would create a cascading series of negative consequences that would be felt across the entire air travel ecosystem, from the individual passenger to the balance sheets of major airlines.

For the Traveler: A Return to Uncertainty

For the average traveler, the effects would be multifaceted. New applicants, including business professionals who need to travel internationally on short notice or families planning their first overseas vacation, would find their plans stymied. Those with pending applications or scheduled interviews would see their progress erased, with no clear timeline for rescheduling. Even existing members are not entirely immune. Anyone whose membership is set to expire during the shutdown would be unable to renew, potentially losing their benefits just when they are needed most.

Furthermore, past shutdowns have demonstrated that the morale of “essential” but unpaid federal workers, such as TSA officers, can plummet. The 2018-2019 shutdown saw a significant increase in unscheduled absences, or “sick-outs,” among TSA employees. This staffing shortage led to the closure of security lanes and consolidated checkpoints at several major airports, causing security wait times to balloon for everyone, including those in the PreCheck lanes. The value of PreCheck is diminished when there are not enough staff to keep its dedicated lanes open and operating efficiently.

For Airports and Airlines: Operational Chaos

The aviation industry relies on the efficiency provided by Trusted Traveler Programs. By shifting millions of low-risk travelers into expedited lanes, TTPs help manage passenger flow and prevent security and customs areas from becoming hopelessly congested. A shutdown threatens this delicate balance.

As more travelers are forced into standard lines, wait times will inevitably increase. This can lead to a cascade of problems:

• Missed Flights: Passengers stuck in unexpectedly long security or customs lines may miss their flights, leading to rebooking chaos and customer dissatisfaction.
• Flight Delays: Airlines may be forced to delay departures to wait for large numbers of connecting passengers who are stuck in processing queues, disrupting flight schedules across the country.
• Economic Impact: Delays and inefficiencies come with a real cost. Airlines burn extra fuel, airports face operational challenges, and business travelers lose productive time. The U.S. Travel Association has previously estimated that travel-related disruptions during shutdowns can cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars.

For National Security: A Strategic Strain

Beyond convenience, TTPs are a cornerstone of modern, intelligence-driven security. The “trusted” designation is not given lightly; it is the result of a thorough vetting process. This allows DHS to apply a risk-based security model, where screening resources are concentrated on individuals and groups about whom less is known. By suspending new enrollments, the system’s ability to segment the traveling population is weakened. Over time, as more non-vetted travelers enter the system, it forces a one-size-fits-all security approach that is less efficient and potentially less effective. Front-line officers become overstretched, spending more time on routine screening of low-risk individuals rather than focusing on genuine threats.

Voices from Washington and the Travel Industry

The prospect of a shutdown and its impact on travel has drawn sharp criticism from industry stakeholders and travel advocates. Leaders from organizations like the U.S. Travel Association and Airlines for America have repeatedly warned that using the nation’s travel infrastructure as a pawn in political disputes is deeply damaging to the economy and the country’s reputation as a premier destination for global business and tourism.

In statements issued in anticipation of a potential shutdown, industry groups have emphasized that the smooth functioning of air travel is not a luxury but an economic necessity. They have called on Congress to recognize the far-reaching consequences of their inaction, pointing out that the disruption to travel programs would have a direct negative impact on commerce, conferences, and the hospitality sector. The core message from the industry is one of profound frustration: that predictable and efficient travel is essential for economic growth, and the political gridlock in Washington is putting that critical engine at risk.

A History of Shutdowns and Travel Disruptions: Lessons from the Past

This is not uncharted territory. The 35-day government shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019 serves as a stark and recent precedent for the chaos that can ensue. During that period, TTP enrollment centers across the country were shuttered, and all interviews and application processing ceased. Travelers reported massive security lines at airports like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) as a result of TSA officer shortages. Some airports were forced to close entire terminals temporarily.

The fallout from that shutdown lasted long after funding was restored. CBP and TSA faced a monumental backlog of applications that took many months to work through, leaving applicants who had paid their fees long before the shutdown waiting in frustration. That experience demonstrated that the damage from a shutdown is not easily or quickly undone. It creates a logistical and administrative bottleneck that strains agency resources and prolongs the negative impact on the traveling public. The warnings from DHS today are not theoretical; they are based on the direct and painful experience of recent history.

What Travelers Should Do Now

For those with upcoming travel plans or pending TTP applications, the uncertainty can be stressful. Experts advise taking a few proactive steps:

• Check Your Expiration Date: If you are an existing member of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, check your membership expiration date immediately. If it is due to expire within the next year, it is wise to begin the renewal process as soon as possible, as processing times can be lengthy even under normal circumstances.
• Arrive Early: In the event of a shutdown, all travelers, regardless of their TTP status, should plan to arrive at the airport earlier than they normally would. Monitor airport and airline websites for real-time updates on security wait times.
• Stay Informed: Keep a close watch on official communications from DHS, TSA, and CBP for the latest information on the operational status of TTPs and airport security.

Looking Ahead: The Urgent Need for a Resolution

The threatened suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry serves as a powerful reminder of how deeply interconnected the functions of government are with the daily lives of citizens and the health of the economy. These programs are more than just a convenience; they are integral components of a modern, efficient, and secure travel network. Allowing them to be paralyzed by a political impasse in Washington would be a self-inflicted wound, creating unnecessary chaos for millions of travelers, inflicting economic damage on the aviation industry, and straining our national security resources. The path forward requires an immediate resolution to the funding crisis, ensuring that the vital systems that keep America moving are not sacrificed in the crossfire of political debate.