The TSA PreCheck shutdown is now a reality for millions of American travelers. The Department of Homeland Security announced it will suspend both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry starting Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 6 a.m. Eastern Time — a direct consequence of the ongoing partial government shutdown that has left the agency without Congressional funding for over a week.
If you have a flight booked in the coming days, this news affects you directly. Here is everything you need to know about what is happening, why it is happening, and what to expect at the airport.
Why DHS Is Suspending TSA PreCheck and Global Entry
The DHS funding lapse began on February 14, 2026, after Congress failed to pass a new appropriations bill for the department. Unlike the historic 43-day full government shutdown that stretched from October through November 2025, this shutdown is narrower in scope — it targets only agencies under the DHS umbrella. That includes the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced the suspension as part of a broader set of emergency measures the agency is taking to redirect staff where it matters most. In a statement, Noem said DHS is “making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions” and that the department is prioritizing the “general traveling population” at airports and ports of entry. By suspending trusted traveler programs, the agency is able to consolidate personnel and security resources into standard screening lanes used by the public at large.
Noem also pointed the finger at Democratic lawmakers, saying this marks “the third time that Democrat politicians have shut down this department during the 119th Congress.”
What Triggered This Shutdown
The funding impasse stems from a political standoff between Republicans and Democrats over how DHS operates. The dispute escalated sharply after federal immigration agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens — Alex Pretti and Renée Good — in Minneapolis last month. Democrats in Congress responded by demanding new restrictions on DHS operations before agreeing to any funding deal.
The White House and Senate Democrats held negotiations, but the two sides could not bridge the gap before DHS funding expired on February 14. Talks are expected to resume this week as lawmakers return from recess, but as of Sunday morning there is no deal in sight.
Republicans have argued that leaving DHS without funding creates serious national security vulnerabilities. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the second-ranking Senate Republican, warned from the Senate floor before the shutdown began: “If the Department of Homeland Security is defunded, the pain will extend throughout the country.”
Democrats, for their part, have maintained they do not wish to disrupt TSA or other non-immigration agencies — but say the aggressive tactics used by federal immigration enforcement are serious enough to justify blocking funding until reforms are in place.
What This Means for Travelers at the Airport
If you enrolled in TSA PreCheck to skip the long lines, that benefit is now gone — at least temporarily. Starting Sunday morning, PreCheck members will need to go through standard security lanes alongside all other passengers. The same applies to Global Entry members, who will no longer receive expedited processing at U.S. ports of entry when returning from international travel.
This is a significant disruption. Millions of Americans rely on these programs every day. TSA PreCheck alone has more than 17 million active members. Both programs charge enrollment fees, and members pay specifically for the convenience of faster screening. The suspension does not involve refunds; it is being treated as a temporary operational pause.
Beyond losing PreCheck access, travelers should also expect potential delays at checkpoints for another reason: TSA officers are required to keep working during the shutdown but will do so without pay. About 95 percent of TSA’s roughly 64,000 employees are classified as essential and cannot be furloughed. However, when workers go unpaid, unscheduled absences tend to rise. Even a small increase in call-outs at a smaller airport with a single security checkpoint could create ripple effects — longer wait times, missed flights, and cascading delays across connected routes.
A senior TSA official previously warned lawmakers of exactly this scenario, noting that many TSA officers “work paycheck to paycheck” and that a shutdown would make it difficult for them to cover basic costs like rent, groceries, and childcare while still reporting to work.
Flight delays are also possible, even though air traffic controllers — who are funded separately — are not affected by this shutdown.
Other DHS Changes Taking Effect This Weekend
The suspension of trusted traveler programs is not the only emergency measure DHS rolled out Sunday. The agency is also ending airport police escorts for members of Congress and other expedited services. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will halt all non-disaster-related travel and is requiring approval even for disaster relief travel. FEMA’s curtailed movement comes at a particularly sensitive time, as a significant winter storm is expected to hit parts of the country this weekend.
These moves signal that DHS is operating in a stripped-down emergency mode, focusing its diminished resources on the most essential public-facing functions while everything else gets cut.
How This Shutdown Differs From the Last One
It is worth noting what makes this shutdown different from the record 43-day shutdown that ended in November 2025. That shutdown was a full government funding lapse triggered by the expiration of Affordable Care Act health plan funds and affected dozens of federal agencies across the board. Critically, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry were not suspended during that shutdown.
This time, the shutdown is narrower — confined to DHS specifically — but the impact on travelers may actually be more disruptive. Because this is a DHS-only funding lapse, the agency has fewer internal resources to absorb the pressure. The decision to suspend PreCheck and Global Entry reflects just how stretched thin DHS has become after more than a week without Congressional appropriations.
When Will TSA PreCheck Come Back?
That depends entirely on when Congress reaches a deal to fund DHS. Lawmakers are expected to return from recess this week and resume negotiations. There is no set timeline, and both parties remain far apart on the core issues surrounding immigration enforcement oversight. Until a funding agreement is reached and DHS operations are restored, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry will remain suspended.
Travelers with upcoming flights should plan accordingly: arrive earlier than usual, expect longer security lines, and be prepared for a slower process at international entry points. Building in extra time is the smartest move right now.
If you’re a frequent traveler, this story is moving fast — drop your questions or experiences in the comments below, and check back for the latest updates as Congress works toward a deal.
