TSA PreCheck remains open (for now), but Global Entry suspended amid DHS shutdown

California travelers experienced a weekend of high-stakes whiplash as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) first announced, and then partially rescinded, a series of service cuts at the nation's airports.

The most significant relief for domestic travelers came Sunday morning when the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced on X that TSA PreCheck remains operational. The announcement reversed a directive issued just hours earlier that would have shuttered the popular expedited screening program.

"At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public," the agency stated, though it cautioned that the situation is far from stable. "As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly."

While PreCheck survived the weekend, international travelers were not as lucky. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has moved forward with an indefinite halt on all Global Entry arrival processing, forcing thousands of pre-approved, low-risk passengers back into standard customs lines.

Global Entry Suspension and FEMA Service Cuts

The changes are part of a broader "emergency operating status" triggered by a partial government shutdown that began on February 14.

According to a February 22 statement from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the department is being forced to "prioritize the general traveling population" by stripping away specialized privileges to keep basic security functions moving.

"FEMA has entered emergency operating status, and is scaling back to bare-minimum, life-saving operations only.  Effective 6:00 a.m. on February 22, FEMA will cease all non-essential activities and focus exclusively on immediate disaster response where there is an active threat to life, public health, or safety." -Kristi Noem

Beyond the loss of Global Entry, these measures have immediate local impacts:

• VIP Privileges Revoked: The TSA and CBP have suspended all "special privilege escorts," including those traditionally provided to Members of Congress. The TSA noted these officers are being redirected to "the critical mission of getting passengers screened."
• FEMA Scaling Back: The Federal Emergency Management Agency has ceased all non-disaster-related work. While immediate life-safety responses continue, long-term recovery projects and administrative processing are paused.

Why TSA and CBP Are Facing Funding Shortfalls

The DHS states these measures are necessary to manage a workforce that is currently working without pay. The funding stalemate in Congress, which centers on a dispute over immigration policy, has left the department without a budget for over a week.

Secretary Noem placed the blame squarely on the ongoing standoff.

"Shutdowns have real world consequences," Noem stated. "We are making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions to mitigate the damage inflicted by these politicians."

However, the timing of the cuts—and the rapid reversal on PreCheck—has drawn sharp criticism. Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu issued a statement Sunday morning expressing deep concern that the traveling public is being "used as a political football."

Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) said the administration is "trying to make things intentionally more difficult for the American people as a political leverage."

TSA PreCheck Status for California Travelers

For travelers at LAX, SFO, and San Diego, the coming days will likely be defined by unpredictability. Even with PreCheck open, the TSA is operating with a depleted workforce.

In a warning posted to X just before the shutdown, the TSA noted that a lack of funding would likely lead to "noticeable impacts at airports, including delays, longer wait times and cancelled flights" due to increased officer callouts.

With a major winter storm also forecast to impact the East Coast this week, the strain on DHS resources could lead to further "case-by-case" service adjustments at security checkpoints across the state.