If you have been searching to find out is global entry shut down, here is the answer you need today: the program was suspended for nearly three weeks, but as of the morning of March 11, 2026, Global Entry has been reactivated. The Department of Homeland Security announced the resumption early this morning, ending one of the most disruptive travel interruptions for frequent international flyers in recent memory.
Here is everything you need to know about what happened, why it matters, and what you should do if you have an international trip on the horizon.
Before you book your next flight out of the country — take two minutes to read this. It could save you hours at customs.
How Did Global Entry End Up Suspended?
The story starts on February 14, 2026, when Congress failed to pass a spending bill that would keep the Department of Homeland Security fully funded. The resulting partial government shutdown immediately began putting pressure on agency operations. A week later, on February 22, DHS announced it was halting all Global Entry arrival processing at participating airports nationwide, effective 6:00 AM that morning.
The agency framed the decision as a necessary step to conserve limited resources and personnel. Customs and Border Protection officers who would normally have staffed Global Entry kiosks were reassigned to handle the standard processing lanes instead. For millions of pre-vetted travelers who had paid to be in the program, it meant standing in the same lines as everyone else — often for two, three, or even five hours.
Within hours of that initial announcement, DHS also said it would suspend TSA PreCheck. That decision was reversed quickly after significant public pressure, and PreCheck was restored the same day. Global Entry, however, stayed shut down — and remained that way for nearly three weeks.
The Airports Felt It Almost Immediately
The impact at major international airports was swift and visible. During the first weekend of March, security and customs lines at airports across the country stretched for three to five hours. Scenes at Houston Hobby, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Charlotte showed queues running through terminals and into parking structures. Several airports began urging international travelers to arrive no fewer than four hours before their scheduled departure.
Part of the problem was compounded by TSA officers working without pay. As the shutdown stretched into its fourth week, growing numbers of agents called in sick or simply stopped showing up. That staffing squeeze pushed wait times even higher at security checkpoints, separate from the Global Entry situation at customs.
The combination created a miserable environment at airports that would normally hum along efficiently during one of the busiest travel periods of the year — early spring break season.
Why Was Global Entry Specifically Targeted?
That became one of the central questions people in the travel industry kept asking. Unlike many government programs that are funded through taxpayer dollars subject to congressional appropriations, Global Entry is largely funded by the application fees paid by members — $120 every five years. The fact that the program was suspended despite having its own revenue stream drew sharp criticism from travel industry leaders, who argued there was no financial logic behind the decision.
Industry groups were vocal in pushing for a reversal, arguing that shutting down Global Entry does not save meaningful money but does cause significant harm. They pointed out that the program actually helps CBP officers work more efficiently by separating pre-screened travelers from the general public, allowing officers to concentrate their attention where it is needed most. Removing that separation, they argued, made everyone’s job harder and every traveler’s experience worse.
Several Democratic senators and representatives publicly criticized the suspension, calling it an unnecessary burden placed on American travelers during an already difficult period.
Global Entry Is Back — But the Shutdown Is Not Over
The big news today is the reactivation. DHS announced this morning that Global Entry would be restored at 5:00 AM ET on March 11. If you are flying internationally today or in the coming days, the kiosks should be operational again at participating airports. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can once again use the expedited automated processing lanes at customs upon returning from abroad.
That said, one critical point bears emphasis: the underlying partial DHS shutdown has not been resolved. Congress has still not passed a full funding bill for the department. The reactivation of Global Entry is a partial relief measure taken while the broader standoff continues. That means the situation could still shift if negotiations stall further or if staffing shortfalls worsen.
TSA PreCheck, for its part, has remained operational throughout the entire period, though staffing pressures have caused longer-than-normal wait times at some airports.
What About New Enrollments and Renewals?
This is where travelers still face uncertainty. Enrollment interviews for new Global Entry applicants have remained paused throughout the shutdown. If you submitted an application and were waiting to schedule your in-person interview, that process has not fully resumed. There is no publicly announced date for when interview scheduling will return to normal capacity.
If your membership recently expired and you submitted a renewal application, you may still be able to use Global Entry kiosks under a provisional grace period while your renewal is being processed. Check your CBP GOES account online to see the current status of your specific membership before you travel.
What Should Travelers Do Right Now?
Even though Global Entry has been restored, smart travel habits still apply. Build extra time into your airport arrival plan. Customs hall staffing is still recovering from weeks of disruption, and it takes time for operations to fully normalize. Keep the Mobile Passport Control app installed on your phone — it is free, works at dozens of major U.S. airports, and allows you to submit passport and customs information digitally before reaching the immigration checkpoint. It is not a replacement for Global Entry, but it is a useful backup that many travelers found helpful during the suspension.
If you are connecting to a domestic flight after an international arrival, give yourself more buffer than usual for the next several days as airports work through the backlog of operational disruptions.
The Bigger Picture
This episode is a reminder of how directly government budget battles affect the everyday lives of American travelers. More than 40 million people are enrolled in TSA PreCheck and Global Entry combined. These are not abstract bureaucratic programs — they are tools that millions of families, business travelers, and frequent flyers depend on every time they cross an international border.
The reactivation of Global Entry today is welcome news. But with the DHS funding situation still unresolved heading into mid-March, travelers would be wise to stay informed and flexible. The next few weeks will determine whether this relief holds or whether further disruptions follow.
If this shutdown affected your travel plans or you have an upcoming international trip, share your experience in the comments below — and keep checking back as the situation continues to evolve.
