The Transportation Security Administration said Sunday that its PreCheck screening lanes at the airport were operational, hours after the Department of Homeland Security said faster security checkpoints had been suspended due to the partial government shutdown.
Travel industry executives said they received little, if any, warning about changes to PreCheck, a program that allows its 20 million pre-screened members to pass through airport security faster than in standard lanes. Industry members spoke with DHS officials in recent hours and expressed concern over the sudden decision, people familiar with the matter said.
“At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational without changes for the traveling public,” TSA officials said in a statement. “If personnel constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly. Courtesy escorts, such as those for Members of Congress, have been suspended to allow officers to focus on their mission of securing America’s skies.”
The agency said that “until funding is restored, all travelers should expect a process that does not sacrifice safety.”
DHS said early Sunday that PreCheck and Global Entry and other program suspensions were set to take effect at 6 a.m. ET on Sunday. As of 12:40 p.m. ET, its updated statement still included a suspension of Global Entry, but it removed mention of PreCheck.
“We are pleased that DHS has decided to keep PreCheck operational and avoid a crisis of its own making,” Geoff Freeman, chief executive of US Travel, an industry group whose members include major airlines, hotel chains like Hyatt And Marriott International and tourist offices throughout the country.
The move comes amid a partial U.S. government shutdown that has left thousands of DHS workers, including TSA airport screeners, working without pay since it took effect on February 14.
“TSA and CBP are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privileges escorts,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.
Noem blamed Democrats for the shutdown. Democrats and Republicans remain at an impasse on immigration policy.
“The shutdowns have real consequences, not only for the men and women of DHS and their families who are left without pay, but they also endanger our national security,” she said. “The American people depend on this department every day, and we are making difficult but necessary decisions about manpower and resources to mitigate the damage inflicted by these politicians.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) pushed back, saying the Trump administration is “choosing to inflict pain on the public instead of enacting common-sense reforms” to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
DHS has not said whether it plans to reverse its suspension of Global Entry or what prompted the change. The White House referred a CNBC investigation to DHS.
Travel industry experts sharply criticized the decision before it was reversed, just months after last year’s record federal government shutdown cost airlines millions of dollars and hurt bookings, executives say.
Industry executives have consistently complained about how air travel has found itself at the center of repeated shutdowns and pushed lawmakers to ensure essential workers are paid if funding lapses.
The 2019 government shutdown ended shortly after a lack of air traffic controllers disrupted flights. The already problematic shortage of air traffic controllers also increased during the 2025 government shutdown, jeopardizing air travel shortly before it ended in November.
The fall government shutdown, the longest on record, cost the travel industry and other sectors $6.1 billion, the group said. These disruptions affected around 6 million travelers.
“A4A is deeply concerned about the suspension of the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs and that the traveling public is, once again, being used as a political football amid yet another government shutdown,” said Chris Sununu, CEO of Airlines for America. The group represents American airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and other major carriers.
“The announcement was released on extremely short notice to travelers, leaving them little time to plan accordingly, which is particularly troubling during this time of record air travel,” he added.