DHS Suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry at 6 a.m. ET Sunday, Impacting Millions as Partial Government Shutdown Continues

The Department of Homeland Security announced it will temporarily suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry beginning Sunday at 6 a.m. ET as a partial DHS funding lapse continues after Congress failed to pass a spending bill.

“Homeland Security suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs | abc13”

ABC13 Houston

Multiple outlets and a DHS spokesperson described the suspension as starting Sunday at 6 a.m. ET.

ABC13 Houston

The pause is framed as a reallocation of limited staff so TSA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can "focus on the general traveling public" and suspend courtesy and special‑privilege escorts.

DHS gave no timeline for when the programs will be restored.

The suspension halts expedited security lanes and fast-track customs processing used by millions of vetted travelers.

Outlets report PreCheck membership and overall trusted-traveler usage are in the tens of millions.

CBS News

Sources disagree on enrollment figures: PreCheck is cited as over 20 million members, Global Entry is reported in the millions, and some outlets say there are more than 40 million vetted travelers across programs.

Staffing counts are reported around 61,000–63,000 essential TSA employees working without pay.

Political debate quickly followed the announcement.

“The Department of Homeland Security is temporarily halting TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, two of the most widely used trusted-traveler programs in the United States, amid a partial government shutdown”

CNN

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem blamed Democrats for the funding impasse in several reports.

Democrats and members of the House Homeland Security Committee called the suspension 'punishing travelers' and accused the administration of politically motivated operational choices.

Some outlets trace the shutdown to a standoff over immigration-policy demands.

Other outlets include additional context about why Democrats withheld DHS funding.

Airlines, airports and travel‑industry groups warned of immediate passenger disruption.

DHS directed FEMA to pause non‑disaster deployments so it can concentrate on declared disasters, steps that industry groups say could drive longer lines and economic costs if sustained.

Daily Mail

Several outlets reported that airlines and trade groups criticized the short notice and urged Congress to reach a funding deal, while DHS and the administration say the moves reassign scarce staff to core checkpoint and disaster‑response duties.

Mainstream U.S. outlets and travel-industry sources report the operational facts and emphasize traveler impact and historical oddity.

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FilmoGaz

International and regional outlets stress staffing numbers and worker hardship.

FilmoGaz

Other outlets provide political context or additional background about the funding dispute.

Readers should note that the core facts — suspension at 6 a.m. ET Sunday; a priority shift to general travelers; and suspension of courtesy escorts — are consistent.

Sources diverge on emphasis, background details and exact program counts.