FILE – U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, right, shakes hands with Transportation Security Administration Officer Monica Degro at a news conference at Harry Reid International Airport, Nov. 22, 2025, in Las Vegas.
Ronda Churchill/AP
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Ronda Churchill/AP
In response to the ongoing government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs. These programs, which expedite security screening for registered travelers, are paused, potentially impacting airport operations and causing delays.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed concern about the impact of the shutdown, stating that “shutdowns have serious real world consequences.” She emphasized the department’s focus on prioritizing the general traveling public over “courtesy and special privilege escorts.”
The shutdown commenced on February 14, following a deadlock between Democrats and the White House regarding the funding of the Department of Homeland Security. Central to the Democrats’ demands are changes to immigration policies, pivotal to President Donald Trump’s deportation initiatives.
Democratic members of the House Committee on Homeland Security criticized the administration’s decision on social media, accusing it of “kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure” and intentionally creating travel disruptions.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
