TSA Pre check, Global Entry - paused US wide eff 6 am 22 Feb

It you have access to the Washington Post, there is more info. I posted the link here:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/dhs-will-suspend-tsa-precheck-and-global-entry-as-shutdown-continues

Another story, not behind paywall

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dhs-pausing-tsa-precheck-global-entry-programs-funding-lapse-rcna260114

This move makes no sense; both programs actually will allow TSA to use less workforce.

Great, and I'm flying next week.

The stoppage is not supposed to make sense. It's a political move hoping the Democrats will capitulate.

The politicians play games and the people suffer.

What about Clear? I wonder if that will be affected?

Or Mobile Passport Control?

Just heard this terrible news.

And to make it worse, a huge blizzard is getting ready to hit the northeast and maybe other areas of the country.

The pausing of TSA Pre and Global Entry came without warning and as a surprise to the airlines.

So glad not to be traveling this week. I am traveling in May and hope this will be over by May.

Thinking of all those who are going to be trying to get home after the Olympics.

Trying to understand the logic. In addition to being less efficient, these programs are fee based. What the heck is Kristi thinking?

Frank, I would think Clear would be affected too. Clear gets you to the front of the TSA pre line, but you still have to go through TSA. We fly domestically in a week. I hope Pre is back by then, but we were planning on getting to the airport extra early anyways due to the shutdown.

I agree that the only "logic" to this maneuver is to get people angry.

So this means that instead of going to the TSA precheck line when I arrive at the airport and moving quickly through, I'll just go to the regular security line and wait, correct? Then when returning from Europe, assuming they haven't resolved the issue, I'll stand in the regular customs line, right? My trip is in about 2 weeks, so while I hope it's resolved by then, I want to be prepared. I wonder how much earlier I should plan to arrive at the airport?

Frank--Clear is still operating, but they will take you to the front of the general line now instead of the front of the Pre line. You will still have to take your shoes off, liquids out etc.

We fly next week and I am dreading this. I don't mind getting to the airport early, as we always do, but coming home I really love Global so I hope this is resolved by the time we return. Selfish, yes.

We are spending this week in NYC—arrived on the 19th. Monitoring the blizzard/weather conditions carefully and now need to figure out timing for our return to the airport for our return flight on Thursday given no TSAPre…

Another gifted news source in case it offers different info: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/us/tsa-precheck-global-entry-homeland-security-shutdown.html?unlocked_article_code=1.OFA.N0Jz.p8XnHO2ESm6p&smid=url-share

So this means that instead of going to the TSA precheck line when I
arrive at the airport and moving quickly through, I'll just go to the
regular security line and wait, correct? Then when returning from
Europe, assuming they haven't resolved the issue, I'll stand in the
regular customs line, right?

KRS yes everyone in the same lines for security and immigration. It is unclear about customs staffing but that is generally not a bottleneck area for travelers.

The logic behind this is very apparent. It’s politics

The toddlers in DC are throwing a tantrum and we’re going to pay the price

by the way those programs are funded by the fees you paid. But you’re now not going to get what you paid for.

Would appreciate any feedback from flyers today or early this week as to experiences at the airports. TIA!

coming home I really love Global so I hope this is resolved by the
time we return.

Many airports now have the new face scanners for the "regular" people. It’s super fast.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/biometrics/environments/airports

What the heck is Kristi thinking?

Indeed. Perpetually.

Carrie--I found this, "CBP Biometric Entry/Exit: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continues to operate mandatory biometric identity verification for non-citizens entering or leaving the U.S. by air. This process uses facial comparison technology at boarding gates and arrival points." So it looks like that is paused as well for most people. I guess we will just wait and see what all happens. I can't change it:)

You will still have to take your shoes off, liquids out etc.

I've been to a few airports where there wasn't a separate pre-check line. What they did was hand me a card at the ID check saying "T
SA-Precheck" which I handed to the agents at the actual line. I was then allowed to keep my shoes on and not have to take out my liquids. But it was the same line as everyone else.

frank--I have been to airports like that too. I am specifically thinking of Oakland since I had to fly out of there every week for 5 months. That was such a small airport though that it was super easy.

I thought you didn't take your shoes off (usually) anymore?

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2025/07/08/tsa-end-shoes-off-airports-screening-policy-there-is-a-catch-what-to-know/84506100007/

Hi mikliz97, the biometric facial comparison for US citizens is part of the normal entry process at many airports now and that has not been impacted by the gov. shut down. It’s only Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/02/22/1-week-democrats-shutdown-dhs-implements-emergency-measures-conserve-resources-and#:~:text=Ending%20Transportation%20Security%20Administration%20(TSA)%20PreCheck%C2%AE%20lanes,Congress%2C%20which%20is%20drawing%20staff%20away%20from

From my recent experience at O'Hare, i get in the regular line for passport control. Instead of having to show my passport to an agent, I walk up to screen on a pole with an agent standing next to it and have my face scanned. I don't even have to show my passport anymore when returning to the US. I've used it serval times now and it is super fast.

I heard on one of my morning talk shows that personal escorts at the airport for elected officials have also been eliminated. That means they will have to stand in line with the voters.

And many elected officials are out of town for the week or some of the week. Mot of those out of town will need to fly back to Washington.

...toddlers in DC...throwing a tantrum...we’re going to pay...programs are funded by the fees...not going to get what you paid for.

Always been true when it comes to travel.

I'm going to write something that is not meant to be political but analysis based on history.

I have to think that these changes will not only be Democrats who will be affected by this policy but Republicans as well. Many will be businesspeople who donate to both parties. They will be inconvenienced and complain. Complaints could mean less money coming in for re-election. And it is an election year.

Secondly, quite often when the Trump administration announces something one day, it is reversed within a few days.

Let's see if either one of these happens. I'm hoping--guessing--that this will be reversed by the end of the week.

Looks like the TSA pre-check lines have been restored already.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/22/tsa-airlines-weather-shutdown-blizzard-dhs.html

This bunch.

The Washington Post is now reporting TSA Precheck is being restored but Global Entry remains suspended. Here is article but you need to create an account, even to see gifted articles:
https://wapo.st/4aw9RZ2

From the WaPo article

A DHS official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal processes, said the change was “based off of conversations the secretary had with the White House and TSA.”
The Global Entry program, however, will remain paused, according to the official.

Looks like the TSA pre-check lines have been restored already.

Policies abruptly changed from hour to hour, day to day ...
I've never seen anything like this until this past year. Decision making apparently is taken lightly; consequences are an afterthought.

Secondly, quite often when the Trump administration announces something one day, it is reversed within a few days.

Or in just a few hours

This reminds me of the who’s on first story

And now here is the article in the NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/22/us/tsa-precheck-global-entry-homeland-security-shutdown.html?unlocked_article_code=1.OFA.HXfi.Vei_EHNf50KL&smid=url-share

I don’t think NYT makes you create an account for gift articles.

The DHS statement regarding the PreCheck suspension reversal reads in part: “TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly.” Which raises the possibility they might decide to reallocate resources into or out of certain airports or areas based on whatever priorities they deem important.

So if you’re flying soon, keep an eye on TSA wait times online and don’t make any assumptions about PreCheck availability one way or the other.

I never thought I would hear circus music in my head when reading a thread on Rick Steves, but here we are…

TSA precheck and clear were "sorta" open in Orlando today. Open then closed and then open and then some folks who were clear were be walked ahead of the regular line. Not my normal airport-- though I've flown few before-- but it was not normal operation. They may have cleared it up later in the day though.

Happy travels.

I got whiplash. smh!

It seems the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing inside DHS. No surprise there.

I landed last night approximately 7:00 PM at DFW. I was on a British Airways flight from London. I was in their premium economy section, (it’s something called World Traveler Extra maybe?). So I was toward the front end of the plane. We walked to customs and I got in the USA passport line and there were 3 stations open for us, I’m not sure how many stations were open for other countries passport holders. There was a sign saying no Global Entry line available.

I was very quickly sent to a station where I stood for a facial recognition system to identify me, the customs official looked at my passport and I was done. The 20-30 people ahead of me seemed to be moving through as quickly as well.

So my experience was very good and hopefully it won’t be much of an issue for us as we travel through this time of Washington deadlock.

Thanks, Lynda for your update and glad you are home!

Starting with the summer trip of 2024 no longer am I told to take off the shoes at SFO . A pleasant surprise. Likewise with the trip of 2025. This is without TSA Pre-Check, I don't have that, not interested in applying for it.

Flew home yesterday through SFO. Global Entry kiosks were not working, but people were able to use GE to enter; you just had to line up in the GE area and wait to talk with an immigration official. (I see on Reddit that GE is shut down completely at some NYC-area airports.)

However, we decided to go through the MPC line instead, which had only 2 people waiting (one of whom had just downloaded the MPC app, not wanting to wait in the GE line), instead of the 25–30 people waiting for GE. Once we were through, the officer taking MPC folks started working on the backlog of GE folks.

Plan C would have been to use the 'regular' line, which we haven't used for maybe 10 years – but here apparently they are now using EPP (?) facial recognition, which makes it pretty quick there too. (Edit: only at LAX in California for now. Other airports listed in the link.)

Thanks Laura. SFO is also my home airport.
I have had GE for 8 years as well as my kid who was a preschooler when she first got it.
We travel international every year and I have not used a regular line or MPC since.

Good call and I will be downloading the app now. We are going to Mexico later this month - hope things improve by then. But good to have plan B in place.

Joy, I'm glad that was helpful. Have a great trip!

Returned home this week via Chicago. Global Entry appeared closed, so we used Mobile Passport. It wasn't quite as fast as GE, but still pretty good (out the door 15 minutes after stepping off the plane from a near gate). I was quite surprised by how short the line was - I expected more people to try to use it.

I returned from Mexico about a week ago, with Houston as my entry point into the US. Knowing that Global Entry was suspended, I had downloaded the MPC app. When we got to immigration, there was no line at the regular entry where they were using facial recognition. We breezed right through, while there was a small queue for the MPC line.

I am not hearing anything about the funding and partial government shutdown because of the war in and around Iran.

I think some federal workers recently received their last paycheck until the situation is resolved and they are now working without pay.

I hope the situation is resolved soon.

I think someone at CPB needs to use a proofreader. Under the lists of where EPP is being used, they have Charlotte, NC under North California.

We flew back from Athens last Friday. We were unable to check in online for any of our Lufthansa flights, probably in advance of the attack on Iran. Our tickets still showed TSA pre-check, and we cruised through Frankfort Passport Control and Security. Upon arrival in Newark there was also no real difficulty, even without Global Entry. More windows were open at Passport Control for US citizens and the TSA line was still designated in Security, although additional TSA officials were not apparent.

Our flights were not at the peak of the day, however.