The Transportation Security Administration announced Sunday its PreCheck program will remain operational despite an earlier announcement that the airport security service would be suspended during the partial government shutdown.
“As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly,” the agency said. It remains unclear whether Global Entry, another airport function, will be affected by the partial shutdown.
TSA added that courtesy escorts, typically used for Members of Congress, have been suspended “to allow officers to focus on the mission of securing America’s skies.”
The federal government entered its second week of a partial shutdown that began Feb. 14 after Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have been advocating for changes to immigration operations that conflict with President Donald Trump’s broader immigration plan.
DHS previously said it was taking emergency measures to preserve limited funds, including ending TSA PreCheck lanes and Customs and Border Protection Global Entry service to refocus personnel on the majority of travelers. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Saturday night that shutdowns have real-world consequences. “Not just for the men and women of DHS and their families who go without a pay check, but it endangers our national security,” Noem said, blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
Both PreCheck and Global Entry are designed to speed registered travelers through security lines. Democrats criticized the initial announcement Saturday night, accusing the administration of weaponizing government services. “This administration is trying to weaponize our government, trying to make things intentionally more difficult for the American people as a political leverage,” Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey told CNN Sunday.
