On Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to suspend two programs that provide expedited airport security screening for millions of air travelers, only to reverse that decision the following day after significant backlash from industry groups and passengers.

The DHS stated Saturday evening that it would pause TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, attributing the move to a funding freeze that has halted agency resources, a situation sparked by a partisan dispute between Democrats and Republicans regarding financing for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

TSA PreCheck currently boasts over 20 million active participants, while approximately 13 million individuals utilize the service. Those enrolled in these programs are granted access to a separate, often significantly shorter, line at airport security checkpoints.

The DHS indicated that the programs would be halted starting Sunday morning in order to “redirect Department personnel toward the majority of travelers.” Secretary Kristi Noem remarked: “Shutdowns carry significant real-world implications, not only for the DHS personnel and their families who are missing paychecks, but they also jeopardize our national security.”

However, later on Sunday, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) clarified that PreCheck “continues to operate normally for the traveling public. Should staffing issues occur, TSA will assess situations individually and modify operations as needed.”

The TSA further noted that courtesy services provided to members of Congress have been discontinued “to enable officers to concentrate on the mission of securing America’s skies.”

The pause on Global Entry, a program managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), appears to remain in effect.

Industry response

The decision to reverse course came after strong objections from airline industry executives, who warned that the abrupt announcement would lead to chaos for travelers.

Chris Sununu, CEO of Airlines for America—an organization representing American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines—stated that his group is “profoundly troubled by the suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, and by the fact that travelers are once again being leveraged as a political tool in the midst of another government shutdown.”

“Travelers were given very little advance notice regarding this announcement, leaving them minimal time to adjust their plans, a situation that is particularly concerning given the current record levels of air travel,” he added in a statement.

Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, described the suspension as “highly regrettable,” arguing that legislators have utilized travel staff as “an instrument for political objectives.”

A broader conflict

As Democrats and Republicans continue negotiations to resolve the partial shutdown affecting DHS funding, the dispute over airport security lines persists.

While numerous DHS operations continue without interruption, agencies like the TSA are facing the hardest hit, as approximately 61,000 employees have been compelled to work without pay since the funding interruption began at midnight on Feb. 14.

Citing an effort to “preserve resources” amid the budget deficit, Noem announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency would “cease all non-disaster-related responses to prioritize active disasters,” a declaration made on the same day a major blizzard is forecasted to strike the East Coast. Snowfall accumulations of up to 20 inches are predicted for New York City.

Noem and the DHS specified that during the shutdown, FEMA will not address past disasters, limiting its focus solely to those “necessitating immediate emergency intervention to safeguard lives or avert catastrophic harm.”

The winter storm has already impacted airlines and airports, with over 6,000 flight cancellations reported from Virginia to Maine through Monday in anticipation of the blizzard.

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi and ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, accused the Trump Administration of compromising travel safety.

“This represents Trump and Kristi Noem intentionally inflicting punishment on the American people and using them as pawns in their malicious political games. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry MITIGATE airport lines and reduce the strain on DHS staff who are working without pay as a result of Trump’s exploitation of the Department and the killing of American citizens,” he stated in a release.

The partial shutdown remains ongoing, with the White House noting last week that Democrats and Republicans remain “significantly divided” on the issues of DHS and ICE funding. The shutdown was triggered when Democrats requested alterations to policy and President Donald Trump’s mass deportations, following the incident where immigration officers shot and killed two U.S. citizens during a crackdown.