DHS suddenly rescinded its suspension of TSA PreCheck

The Transportation Security Administration said Sunday that its PreCheck airport screening lanes are ready to go, hours after the Department of Homeland Security announced that the faster security checkpoints were being paused amid the partial government shutdown.

Travel industry leaders said they received little, if any, warning about changes to PreCheck, a program that allows its 20 million pre-screened members to pass through airport security faster than standard lanes. Industry members spoke with Department of Homeland Security officials in the past few hours and expressed concern about the sudden decision, people familiar with the matter said.

“At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public,” TSA officials said in a statement. “As staffing restrictions emerge, TSA will evaluate each case individually and adjust operations accordingly. Escorts, like those for members of Congress, have been suspended to allow officers to focus on the mission of securing America’s skies.”

“Until funding is restored, all travelers should expect an operation that does not sacrifice security,” the agency said.

The suspension of PreCheck, Global Entry and other programs is scheduled to take effect at 6 a.m. ET on Sunday, DHS said early Sunday. As of 12:40 PM ET, its updated statement still included the universal access comment but removed the reference to PreCheck.

“We are pleased that DHS has decided to keep PreCheck running and avoid a crisis of its own,” said Jeff Freeman, CEO of US Travel, an industry group whose members include major airlines and hotel chains such as the Department of Homeland Security. life and Marriott International and tourism boards across the country.

The move comes amid a partial US government shutdown that has left thousands of Department of Homeland Security workers, including TSA airport screening workers, working without pay since it began on February 14.

“TSA and CBP are giving priority to the traveling public at our airports and ports of entry, and are discontinuing courtesy escorts and special privileges,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.

Noem blamed Democrats for the shutdown. Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over immigration policy.

“Closings have real consequences, not only for the men and women of DHS and their families who are not getting paid, but they put our national security at risk,” she said. “The American people depend on this Department every day, and we are making difficult but necessary decisions about manpower and resources to mitigate the damage these politicians are doing.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.) responded, saying the Trump administration “is choosing to inflict pain on the public rather than embrace common-sense reforms” to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

DHS has not said whether it expects to reverse its suspension of the Global Entry program or what prompted the change. The White House referred an inquiry from CNBC to the Department of Homeland Security.

Travel industry experts sharply criticized the move before it was reversed, which comes just months after a record federal government shutdown last year that cost airlines millions of dollars and hurt bookings, according to executives.

Sector leaders have consistently complained about how air travel has ended up at the center of recurring shutdowns, and have pushed lawmakers to ensure essential public employees are paid during funding cuts.

The government shutdown ended in 2019 after a brief period disrupted flights due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. The shortage of air traffic controllers, already a problem, also spiked during the 2025 government shutdown, crippling air travel shortly before it ended in November.

The fall government shutdown, the longest on record, cost the travel industry and other sectors $6.1 billion, the group said. These disruptions affected about 6 million passengers.

“A4A is deeply concerned that the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs have been suspended, and that the traveling public will once again be used as a political football amid another government shutdown,” said Chris Sununu, CEO of Airlines for America. Represent the group American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines And other major transportation companies.

He added: “The announcement was made with very short notice to travellers, giving them little time to plan accordingly, which is particularly concerning at this time of record air travel.”