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DHS Keeps Global Entry Closed While PreCheck Status Diverges Amid Feb. 14 Shutdown

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  • People enter a Transportation Security Administration security checkpoint at Philadelphia International Airport on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
    People enter a Transportation Security Administration security checkpoint at Philadelphia International Airport on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    People enter a Transportation Security Administration security checkpoint at Philadelphia International Airport on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Credit: AP) Source Full size
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    Image: AP
    Source Full size
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    Image: AP
    Source Full size

Shutdown Trigger and Timeline: The partial government shutdown began on Feb. 14 after Democrats and President Donald Trump’s team failed to fund the Department of Homeland Security, a dispute centered on immigration‑related provisions [1][2][3]. This shutdown follows a 43‑day full shutdown from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12 2025 that was caused by expired Affordable Care Act funding [2][3]. Funding talks remain stalled, leaving DHS agencies operating under limited resources [1][2].

Global Entry Suspension Confirmed: All three outlets report that the Global Entry trusted‑traveler program is suspended for the duration of the shutdown [1][2][3]. DHS announced the halt at 6 a.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 22, and indicated the closure will persist until funding is restored [2][3]. Travelers such as Amy Wainscott and Jean Fay learned of the suspension only after attempting to use the service [1].

PreCheck Operational Discrepancy: The Associated Press notes that TSA PreCheck remained open after DHS reversed an earlier plan to end it, stating the agency will assess staffing case‑by‑case [1]. In contrast, King5 and WBNS both state that PreCheck was suspended alongside Global Entry at 6 a.m. ET on Sunday [2][3]. This inconsistency reflects differing interpretations of DHS communications during the shutdown.

Impact on Travelers and Staffing: TSA officers are expected to work without pay, raising the risk of longer security lines, especially at smaller airports, and prompting officials to advise passengers to arrive early and pack compliant items [2][3]. The winter storm sweeping the East Coast compounded disruptions, with airlines canceling nine out of ten flights from JFK, LaGuardia, and Boston Logan for Monday [1]. Experts estimate that Global Entry normally reduces customs processing to 5‑10 minutes, but the suspension eliminates that time‑saving benefit for enrolled travelers [1].

FEMA and Winter Storm Response: FEMA has paused all non‑disaster response activities to concentrate resources on the impending severe winter weather affecting the Mid‑Atlantic and Northeast [2][3]. The storm’s arrival coincides with the shutdown, further straining travel infrastructure and emergency management capacities [1]. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and update travelers on potential delays [2].

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Timeline

Oct 1 – Nov 12, 2025 – The United States experiences a 43‑day full government shutdown after the Affordable Care Act health‑plan funds expire; despite the shutdown, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry continue operating unchanged[2].

Nov 7, 2025 – The FAA issues an emergency order cutting 4 % of flights at the nation’s 40 busiest airports to relieve unpaid air‑traffic controllers during the shutdown[3].

Nov 12, 2025 – The FAA raises the cut to 6 % then reduces it to 3 % as staffing improves; the shutdown ends the same day, restoring normal funding for federal operations[3].

Nov 16, 2025 – The FAA lifts all flight‑cut restrictions just before the Thanksgiving travel peak, allowing airlines to resume full schedules[3].

Dec 1, 2025 – The FAA launches a 30‑day investigation into airline compliance with the flight‑cut order, warning that violations could incur fines up to $75,000 per excess flight[3].

Dec 2025 – Delta Air Lines publicly estimates a $200 million loss from the 43‑day shutdown, marking the first disclosed airline cost figure for the episode[3].

Dec 31, 2025 – Airlines must submit evidence of compliance to the FAA or face the stipulated fines; the probe targets carriers with more than ten daily flights at the 40 busiest hubs, including Delta, American, United, Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska[3].

Feb 14, 2026 – A partial DHS shutdown begins after Democrats and the White House fail to fund the department, with Democrats demanding immigration‑operation changes tied to President Trump’s deportation agenda[1].

Feb 22, 2026 (6 a.m. ET) – DHS suspends both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs as the partial shutdown takes effect, directing TSA officers to work without pay and warning of possible security‑line delays[2].

Feb 22, 2026 (later that day) – DHS reverses its earlier decision and keeps TSA PreCheck open, while Global Entry remains closed for the shutdown’s duration[1].

Feb 22, 2026 (evening) – DHS Secretary Kristi Noem states the shutdown “endangers our national security” and forces TSA and CBP to suspend “courtesy and special privilege escorts,” calling the measures “tough but necessary”[2].

Feb 22, 2026 (evening) – FEMA pauses all non‑disaster response activities to concentrate resources on an imminent severe winter storm forecast for the Mid‑Atlantic and Northeast[2].

Feb 22 – 23, 2026 – A major winter storm sweeps the East Coast, prompting airlines to cancel nine out of ten flights departing JFK, LaGuardia and Boston Logan on Monday[1].

Feb 22, 2026 – Travelers such as Amy Wainscott and Jean Fay report passing through PreCheck without noticing any changes, learning of the shutdown only afterward; DHS had earlier warned of “emergency measures” to end both programs[1].

Feb 22, 2026 – Security experts advise passengers to arrive early, monitor packing restrictions, and expect possible delays at smaller airports due to reduced TSA staffing[2].

Feb 22, 2026 (future) – Global Entry stays suspended for the duration of the shutdown, with no verified data confirming its typical 5‑10‑minute processing advantage for enrolled travelers[1].

2026 (ongoing) – DHS continues to assess TSA PreCheck staffing case‑by‑case, adjusting operations as needed while the partial shutdown remains unresolved[1].

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