This doesn’t strike me as being terribly logical, or as a winning strategy politically… but maybe it’ll get reversed within hours, kind of like that El Paso Airport (ELP) shut down?
In this post:
DHS shuts down TSA PreCheck & Global Entry with bad logic
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is suspending both the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs (which offer expedited security and immigration, respectively). This applies as of 6AM ET on Sunday, February 22, 2026. To be clear, we’re not just talking about enrollment being suspended, but we’re talking about actual use of the programs being suspended.
This is being blamed on the current partial government shutdown that we’re seeing, which is due to Democrats and the White House being unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund the DHS, with Democrats demanding changes to immigration operations that are key to President Trump’s deportation efforts. During shutdowns, government employees may not be paid, so the concern is that fewer workers will show up.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said in a statement that “shutdowns have serious real world consequences,” and “TSA and CBP are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts.”
Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security have criticized this decision, saying that the Trump administration is “kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure,” and is accusing the Trump administration of “ruining your travel on purpose.”
This is intended to punish the public, make a point
Let’s take politics out of this for a moment. The intent of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry is that it expedites the security and immigration processes, by granting these privileges to prescreened travelers. So it doesn’t just save travelers time, but it also saves those performing the screening services time… it’s more efficient for everyone!
TSA PreCheck lanes screen more people her hour than standard screening lanes, since the screening standards aren’t quite as strict. The same is true for Global Entry, where much of the work with clearing travelers is done by machines.
So if you have concerns about staffing shortages — as is being claimed here — keeping those services open should be a priority. Like, I don’t need to write another 10 paragraphs about this, because it’s that simple… that’s just the truth.
If you need to screen 100 travelers and have fixed resources, would you rather have a system where each passenger takes two minutes to be screened, or a system where half of the passengers take two minutes to be screened, and the other half take one minute to be screened? Because that’s what’s happening here.
Would anyone like to make a counterpoint (other than accusing others of having “TDS”)? What Noem is saying here is complete drivel:
- “Shutdowns have serious real world consequences” — you’re right that they do, but this one that you’re manufacturing isn’t among them
- “TSA and CBP are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry” — okay, then keep the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs going, because screening those passengers more efficiently will leave more time to screen the “general traveling population”
Bottom line
The Trump administration has shut down the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs. This is being done due to the partial government shutdown, and the claim is that this is so that screeners can focus on the general population of travelers. That makes no sense, though — TSA PreCheck and Global Entry require less staffing than standard lanes, so this will make the situation worse for the average traveler, and not better.
Would anyone care to defend this policy? Can anyone help me understand Noem’s math or logic?
This is classic mob boss behavior. We’re being told to “kiss the ring” or suffer the consequences.
There’s no financial or functional benefit to doing this, which is why it’s never been done before.
And, of course, since vanilla Republicans, independents, and Democrats travel more than MAGA, it’s targeted at Trump’s “enemies”.
This isn’t even news outside of travel blogs. Normal people will not care. Is it a petty way to prove a point?Yes. Is it a shrewd political play? Likely also yes. Democrats have been holding up DHS funding to prove a point, ICE is already fully funded so there is no real world impact to their issues with ICE. They are holding up funding to other departments to be petty. So the Trump admin uses...
This isn’t even news outside of travel blogs. Normal people will not care. Is it a petty way to prove a point?Yes. Is it a shrewd political play? Likely also yes. Democrats have been holding up DHS funding to prove a point, ICE is already fully funded so there is no real world impact to their issues with ICE. They are holding up funding to other departments to be petty. So the Trump admin uses this as leverage to clap back. Donald Trump is all about leverage. It’s not that complicated.
I posted a link from Fox News just to show "This isn’t even news outside of travel blogs" is simply not true, but alas it is under moderation.
PreCheck is still open at DFW.
I paid extra for Global Entry that includes TSA Pre-Check. DHS already has the extra money in hand to fund these two programs.
Give me my money back if you are not going to provide the services I paid for.
Douchebag move from Secretary Kardashian. The only qualification these people have is the ability to be vengeful and spiteful. Zero skills or common sense.
Evil but smart. The way you get Congress to start folding on the government shutdown is for there to be long lines at the airport. You need news reporters at DCA interviewing miserable people flying to FLL. This induces that artificially early
Unless that is if people realize that this is BS and will actually make TSA less efficient during understaffing. Which it will and people will get it. With that they will rightfully blame Trump. So, yes, in the end they will fold and properly make reforms to ICE so they stop hiding behind masks as they murder Americans in the street.
Nah, you just need reporters at PBI with miserable people flying from Trump.
go back and look at the previous shutdown and how it ended.
whether you like or not, the blue team was humiliated
@Tim
The old blue versus red schtick is over, Tim. It's now MAGA fascism versus the majority of the American population and our democracy. Many who voted for Trump did not vote for this. There is a point, proven throughout history, where populist supporters become progressives when they feel hoodwinked. And many are. Far more than gave him the edge in 2024.
Lil Timmy is quite the mental chump when it comes to opinions on non-DL topics
It doesn’t reduce the inconvenience to folks w TSA, but they could still grant TSA benefits while making you wait in the regular line. This is how a smaller airport by my house handles it, or at least did as of about a year ago. They’d give you a laminated card so that when it is your turn, you keep shoes on, laptops in bags etc. JFK terminal 1 also does it this way at...
It doesn’t reduce the inconvenience to folks w TSA, but they could still grant TSA benefits while making you wait in the regular line. This is how a smaller airport by my house handles it, or at least did as of about a year ago. They’d give you a laminated card so that when it is your turn, you keep shoes on, laptops in bags etc. JFK terminal 1 also does it this way at extreme off hours, albeit minus the laminated card. we are stuck waiting in line and then get our benefits. Hopefully they can at least allow this in this scenario. It would certainly reduce the average time to screen travelers if the TSA folks can at least get their usual quicker screening.
Oh look! A logical alternative! Pity a certain Pat couldn't think of it.
I long for the days when I would wake up in the morning and not have another drama created by this insane monster. The only upside is that this is going to prove to be so unpopular that it will backfire on him. Outside of Tim Dunn that is.
The Timcel always finds a way to defend the Pedo in Chief
“I don’t need to write another 10 paragraphs about this, because it’s that simple… that’s just the truth.”
This type of argument should be a red flag whenever you read it. No better alternatives are offered... because none exist.
Another commenter and I offered exactly the alternative under your last comment.
I didn’t know my previous comment posted. I had an error message when I hit post. But anyway, keeping both lanes open during a funding shortage is a “have your cake and eat it too” solution that isn’t realistic.
You are making it out as if there's only one general line and one PreCheck line, and it's binary choice to keep only one open. But many airports have multiple of each. If the there needs to be a staff reduction then they can very well reduce the number of lanes for both proportionally, or even prioritize PreCheck (while keeping some general lanes open) as they are more efficient.
But anyway, another commenter just pointed...
You are making it out as if there's only one general line and one PreCheck line, and it's binary choice to keep only one open. But many airports have multiple of each. If the there needs to be a staff reduction then they can very well reduce the number of lanes for both proportionally, or even prioritize PreCheck (while keeping some general lanes open) as they are more efficient.
But anyway, another commenter just pointed out how you can have PreCheck running even with one general line, and there's no reason not to do that as people who are eligible will be able to pass much more quickly.
President takes away the one thing that makes airports safer and more efficient because he wants to punish those opposed to a Gestapo murdering Americans in the street. I don't think Ben needed to explain it. But there you go given you must be living in a cave.
Let's exact our first revenge in November.
It’s going to be such a fcking bloodbath - can’t wait!
I thought that's why we paid extra for this.
I knew the charges was a scam money grab all along.
If you do a charge back, would that land you on the No Fly List?
Is TSA has to make staffing cuts, what alternative do you feel would be more efficient? I honestly can’t think of any alternative, besides closing the general lane and having non-PreCheck people using the PreCheck lane.
He literally lays out the alternative - keep both open as long as possible but then prioritize precheck because it is a more efficient use of screening resources per hour/per agent than general. Logical.
It doesn't matter TSA has to make staffing cuts. It's not as if there are employees only trained for PreCheck and not the general security line or vice versa. Even if TSA staffing goes down to 50% of what it was before, putting 25% on PreCheck and 25% on general is still going to be more efficient than having all 50% on general.
Insanity is the party that lost the election (you know, democracy) getting to hold the country hostage for their extreme demands, while the party in control of POTUS, SCOTUS, house and Senate is powerless to do anything. This is unsustainable.
What of their demands is so extreme?
Opposing anything the Republicans do, regardless of whether the policy might actually help their constituents is extreme...
The primary argument about the D.H.S. bill pertains to ICE funding, an agency that has wildly abused its authority and the constitutional rights of many American citizens (see the numerous reports of US citizens being unlawfully arrested by them). So yeah, I think the opposition should use the limited levers they have to try to stop this administration from using the constitution to wipe Orange Hitler’s asshole.
That’s rich, given how partisan gerrymandering and an archaic system where land has more power than people are the only reasons the GOP has a “majority”.
Do we know if Nexus is also suspended?
The Nexus security lanes and CBSA machines in Canada won’t be impacted, but presumably the Global Entry machines in US Preclearance will be unavailable. So at an airport like Pearson you should be able to use Nexus security and then have to join the standard US immigration line.
For those that are eligible, remember there's still Mobile Passport Control.
I was wondering about the nexus entry lane at usa border crossing.
This its crazy.
LOL...
Crazy Ivan..
this is one article that the topic IS political.
The blue team desperately wants to reform ICE even though it has its own budget that is fully funded and is willing again to shut down even part of the government to prove their point.
TSA and other parts of DHS are caught in the middle of the partial government shutdown that has no end in sight absent forcing the issue of funding the...
this is one article that the topic IS political.
The blue team desperately wants to reform ICE even though it has its own budget that is fully funded and is willing again to shut down even part of the government to prove their point.
TSA and other parts of DHS are caught in the middle of the partial government shutdown that has no end in sight absent forcing the issue of funding the entirety of the government.
People talk about the clown that is in the WH but Congress has a lower approval rating than any President for years. It is this kind of bipartisan inability to work together which has divided Washington and the US.
People's salaries should not be held hostage to political ideology. Not paying government workers has to end whether you like what the government does or not.
If there is ANY good news in all of this, there are and will be thousands of flights cancelled due to winter weather over the next couple of days.
The bad news is that my flights this week are not expected to cancel.
@ Tim Dunn -- What does any of this have to do with the topic at hand? Making screening more time consuming is not a solution to staffing shortages. Do you agree or disagree with this policy change?
It has everything to do with what is at hand, Ben.
TSA employees which are effectively essential employees are being held hostage every time someone in the minority party doesn't like something that the majority party does.
People's salaries should not be held hostage.
By suspending the entire pre-check program, the administration is widening the net to force resolution of full funding.
Do I like how it is playing out? Absolutely not. Do...
It has everything to do with what is at hand, Ben.
TSA employees which are effectively essential employees are being held hostage every time someone in the minority party doesn't like something that the majority party does.
People's salaries should not be held hostage.
By suspending the entire pre-check program, the administration is widening the net to force resolution of full funding.
Do I like how it is playing out? Absolutely not. Do I think the administration will succeed at ramming through a fully funded government w/ no change to ICE? It is very likely to happen.
It is bargaining on a level most of us can never hope to achieve and it messes w/ people's lives.
The difference here is that Congress really is the mechanism that is supposed to prevent this from happening but they have had the lowest approval ratings for decades - spanning multiple administrations.
Delusional Tim.
How is alerting the public that their paid skip the line privileges are now suspended anything political?
Now I know I can't show up 30 mins before departure and will missconnect in ATL tomorrow because stupid greedy Delta keeps selling me under 90 mins INTL connections.
Since Kirby and Ed a keep jerking off 47, does that mean everything from those airlines are political?
But Tim doesn't care, it's not from DOT or earnings call, it's not facts.
This situation is so messed up that — and I cannot believe it — I actually agree with Timothy Gunn. And, I am shocked, but I think he’s making reasonable cogent points. Damn, I’m down bad! And my week is also looking brutal atm with this!
Brad,
some of us have made enough trips around the sun to know that politics and money corrupt.
It only matters who has the majority of it at any given time.
To somehow think that this hasn't happened before and will only get worse under the next party is delusional.
It only adds to the motivation of why people - including me when I can - fly private which diverts resources to a privileged few
Mr. Dunn, I’ve also made many trips around the world and am very happy to accept occasional rides on PJs where you can see the ridiculous nature of this world. I have elite status on all 3 major U.S. carriers. Plenty of perspective.
And I’m a registered independent. Wanna know why? Because, like you said, they’re all f*ck*d. Damn, we agree again.
Hmm - I wonder if the nice immigration guys who come to my plane when I land at TEB or PBI to clear me at the aircraft will also be suspended?
Was surprised during the last shutdown I was able to get my kids new passport an GE set up. Turns out because there are fees they are considered self sustaining. Makes this even more illogical.
Are they suspending Known Crew and Congressional escorts as well?
Not the story you want see waking up in an airport hotel. My morning is going to be a lot more hectic.
So since we paid for 5 years, do we get a refund of the unused years?....You know, kinda like the refunds we're going to get from the illegal tariff fees?...Oh, wait...
As if. He’s taking billions from US coffers for his “ bored” of peace club.
Believe it or not- the combined program population is around 25 or 30 million. Less than 10% of the population. It will have little to no impact with John Q. Public but will certainly piss off "elites" (big donors, members of congress, etc).
@ John G -- As of August 2024, the number was over 40 million. And of course even those without TSA PreCheck and Global Entry will be negatively impacted by this in terms of having to wait longer, due to less efficient screening. But you're right, I'm sure the people who think we're more respected than ever before in the world also won't in any way blame Trump for this.
The numbers I used exclude non-citizen members (LPRs on Pre-check, Global Entry participating countries). And if I was a betting man (and I am), I would predict other massive changes to both of those programs. If you do some poking around in the CFR's filed open for commentary, you will see what I'm talking about.
@ John G -- Fascinating. Do you have a link/could you point me in the right direction?
Another flaw in this logic is the assumption of all 300M+ Americans travel by air (internationally to be able to use GE). If you apply more filters of people who have passports and who actually travel frequently/internationally, the numerator gets much smaller, and thus the percentage of impacted TSE/GE enrolled pax much higher.
Is clear still operating?
Elect a criminal, a clown, and a pedophile protector, and this is what you end up. Doing it twice? That's a national disgrace.
Unfortunately I think your mistake is expecting our looking for logic, Ben - there is none!
100% correct
I was pretty sure the WSJ wrote Kristi Noem’s political obituary earlier this month, but somehow she’s dragged on. This is the shortsighted and self centered BS that makes her not up for the job. This isn’t even about politics. It’s basic economics and personnel management. It takes more people and more resources to screen passengers when you take this program away. Plus, she didn’t suspend these programs during a much broader 43 day government...
I was pretty sure the WSJ wrote Kristi Noem’s political obituary earlier this month, but somehow she’s dragged on. This is the shortsighted and self centered BS that makes her not up for the job. This isn’t even about politics. It’s basic economics and personnel management. It takes more people and more resources to screen passengers when you take this program away. Plus, she didn’t suspend these programs during a much broader 43 day government shutdown. This will be a self-inflicted political wound.
She wants the chaos and is taking the gamble that people will blame democrats for it. Given the propaganda most folks seem to willingly slurp down from Fox News and such it wouldn’t surprise me if politically she wins this one.
Amoral, unethical, and wildly stupid? Yes. But we might as well replace E Pluriubus Unum with those words as our national motto at this point.
Another retribution punishment from maga incompetence. Why try to logically solve a problem when you can make it worse
Both parties pull this garbage. President Obama had park rangers put up signs at monuments along the National Mall saying they were closed due to Congress (then GOP controlled) not funding the government. It was petty and actually cost more resources to enforce. This is not an excuse for Noem’s decisions. I wish politicians didn’t act like children, but that’s what we seem to get.
Close but wrong. The signs were finally placed on the mall to keep people from visiting and dumping their garbage ( unlike this shutdown DHS ) there wasn't federal money to pick up the trash. It wasn't petty politics, It was sanitation
An absolutely effective way to punish the traveling public. And I hope my fellow travelers will return the favor to Congressional Republicans this November.
Republicans would say that this is the Democrats’ fault for not funding the one department with “security” in its name. Of course that doesn’t mean Noem had to do this. It’s her decision to hurt the public in this way, and by proxy the President owns that decision. I say this only to note that the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side of the aisle. Both parties are myopic and focused on generating outrage.