The suspension should be temporary and may begin as early as 6 a.m. ET Sunday, according to the Washington Post.
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security said it would temporarily suspend two popular travel programs Sunday morning due to the partial government shutdown.
The programs are designed to help registered travelers get through security lines quicker.
The Washington Post first reported the news and said a DHS spokesperson said the shutdown would begin at 6 a.m. ET Sunday.
“Shutdowns have serious real world consequences, not just for the men and women of DHS and their families who go without a paycheck, but it endangers our national security,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement Sunday evening. “TSA and CBP are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts. “
She said the department was making “tough but necessary” decisions to mitigate the shutdown damage.
Along with the suspended TSA programs, FEMA is halting all non-disaster related responses to prioritize disasters.
“This is particularly important given this weekend another significant winter storm is forecast to impact the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States,” Noem said in a statement.
TSA Precheck and Global Entry were not impacted during the 43-day long full government shutdown, which lasted from Oct. 1, 2025 through Nov. 12, 2025. The cause of that historical shutdown was over expiring Affordable Care Act health plan funds.
The battle between lawmakers and the White House over oversight of federal immigration officers led to a pause in funding for the Department of Homeland Security. A partial government shutdown began Saturday Feb. 14 after congressional Democrats and President Donald Trump ’s team failed to reach a deal on legislation to fund the department through September.
Democrats are demanding changes to how immigration operations are conducted after the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal officers in Minneapolis last month.
Unlike the record 43-day shutdown last fall, the closures are narrowly confined, affecting only agencies under the DHS umbrella, including the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. But the work of ICE and CBP will mostly continue unabated, thanks to billions in funding from Trump’s 2025 tax and spending cut law.
Transportation Security Administration officers are expected to work without pay while lawmakers remain without an agreement on DHS’ annual funding.
But even a handful of unscheduled TSA absences could quickly lead to longer wait times at smaller airports, for example, if there’s just a single security checkpoint. Shortages of TSA officers also could slow the screening of checked luggage behind the scenes.
Experts say flight delays are also possible – even though air traffic controllers are not affected by the shutdown.
What can travelers do to prepare?
- Plan to arrive early and allow extra time to get through security
- Pay close attention while packing, since prohibited items are likely to prolong the screening process
- Avoid bringing full-size shampoo or other liquids, large gels or aerosols and items like pocketknives in carry-on bags
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