Well here’s some positive news… now if only someone could explain why this ever happened in the first place.
In this post:
Global Entry shutdown ends after 17 days
On February 22, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would suspend Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, two programs that save travelers time at the airport. The argument was that due to the partial government shutdown, resources would instead be put into “prioritizing the general traveling population.”
This made absolutely no sense, since Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are both services that are more efficient for screening travelers, and therefore reduce the number of employees needed. So if you anticipate being short staffed, completely closing Global Entry and TSA PreCheck is counterproductive.
Anyway, the Trump administration had almost immediately reversed course on the TSA PreCheck closure, but kept the Global Entry policy in place for more than two weeks.
That will finally be changing — as of 5AM ET today (March 11, 2026), Global Entry is being reopened across the board, so travelers will once again have access to expedited immigration for clearing immigration about returning to the United States.
This policy reversal is good news, but…
I’m happy to see the Trump administration reverse course on its Global Entry policy, but it’s hard to give them too much credit for simply reversing a baseless restriction they implemented in the first place.
I still don’t understand the full backstory of how this came to be, or what the justification for closing Global Entry was other than “hey, let’s make life more unpleasant for everyone, as that’s a winning strategy with this shutdown.”
Was Kristi Noem behind this policy, and with her now fired — pardon me, I mean, promoted to the important role of “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas” — the policy is finally being reconsidered? I just don’t get it. If someone has an explanation that doesn’t just involve accusing others of having “TDS,” I’d love to hear it!
Bottom line
Global Entry is reopening as of 5AM on March 11, 2026, after a closure of 17 days. The Trump administration closed Global Entry due to the partial government shutdown, but it’s not exactly clear to me how potential staffing issues are supposed to be helped by making the immigration screening process longer for some passengers.
What do you make of this Global Entry policy reversal?
I am seriously considering dropping my Global Entry subscription. Because although it is a bit faster than the regular line, delivery of my bag at the belt takes ages anyway.
And no, I cannot travel without checked bags,
I didn't even realize it was closed. I walked up to GE desk at Guam and was served immediately. Kiosks were off, but I thought it's due to refurbishment at the airport.
Seriously, you want people to comment sans TDS yet in the same paragraph you make some stupid comment about Kristi Noem being “fired” yet try to make a non- funny. You would be more appealing with an extra dose of anti-TDS pills or maybe an open mind.
Had the same experience as JustinB, but at ATL on Sunday. GE was closed, but they were using tablets with facial recognition to clear the general traveling population in a matter of seconds. No customs questioning occurred, just waved everyone through.
Liberal bias blog very much?
Pointing out the facts is not biased. But I guess for some people, reality is biased.
Snic, maybe consider thanking our President for reopening GE, despite the fact that the Democrats are the reason for the government shutdown (again).
Sure. Keep telling yourself that.
If any, the blame is at least 50-50
You conservative Republican voter.
Jim you ignorant mouth breather - GOP controls all 3 branches of government. Figure out a way to make a deal and govern.
I will never thank trump. He has done nothing in his entire existence that warrants a thank you.
Hey Jim - if the choice is having the Department of Homeland Security and ICE honor the constitution and a bill of rights or endure the inconveniences of a shutdown, I’ll choose that shutdown every damn time.
My liberty will not be purchased by convenience or even security.
Thanks. Jim shows his ignorance.
"the Democrats are the reason for the government shutdown"
The Republicans can pass the legislation anytime they like without Democratic votes...
...except that they refuse to do it. But sure - blame the Democrats.
Thank the sexual assaulter for reopening a process they should keep open as it is more efficient? Sure. And you agree with the @GOP killing Americans...that is on you.
Zing! snic got'em!
I don't understand why Jim Narrow-minded and Eskimo don't just love this website or leave it already?
I don't understand why Toobulls-hit aka Toobis don't just love this website or leave it already?
Interesting how they scrupulously avoided delivering this TACO on Tuesday and instead waited until precisely Wednesday morning.
When is Trump releasing the Epstein files?
Why did every living ex-chief of Mossad attend the funeral of Epstein's father?
Because they didn’t? Many high-ranking Israeli officials attended the funeral of Ghislaine Maxwell’s father, Robert Maxwell, because he was a very rich and influential Jew who requested to be buried in Israel. Wherever you’re getting your information, it’s wrong. The Stormfront website is not a reliable source of news. Perhaps if you put down the bong and removed your tin foil hat, the world might not seem so frightening a place to your obviously tiny minds?
Glad it is back but lame that a service we have paid extra for was not available during the “shutdown” due to funding
I used mobile passport control at SFO this week returning from Australia, and it was speedy. Just an extra step to download the app and fill out a form
Mobile Passport was closed at DFW last week.
Wow, I didn’t think DFW could get worse…
237 days until the midterms, friends. Vote.
Glad they finally realized harming those who pay for this privilege was an odd form of collective punishment and ineffective at reaching any of their goals.
As for them choosing to not pay federal workers… that too is collective punishment. There’s ample funds (especially with the excess from last year’s BBB legislation). Those in power simply hate workers and consumers.
Time to choose different leaders…
People saiducks. Same thing during 45.
And you got him back at 47.
So either voters sucks, 46 sucks, or the system sucks.
Say what you want but the people has spoken. 47 is of the people, by the people, for the people
Is that an attempt at ‘both sides’-ism, or mere nihilism? Either way, yes, voting is our system, and everyone actively participating is important for it to work well. Education and critical thinking help, too. I wouldn’t give up so easily.
Or 47 told the "people" what they wanted to hear and delivered the exact opposite of every campaign promise. Higher grocery/energy/gas prices, new wars, dead Americans - killed by Trump's gestapo and by Trump's stupid Iran war, Project 2025, $96 BILLION worth of lobster, Russia/Ukraine still raging, failed tariff policy, $0 saved from DOGE, close to $200M worth of golfing, utterly disastrous foreign policy in every area of the world... I could keep going but...
Or 47 told the "people" what they wanted to hear and delivered the exact opposite of every campaign promise. Higher grocery/energy/gas prices, new wars, dead Americans - killed by Trump's gestapo and by Trump's stupid Iran war, Project 2025, $96 BILLION worth of lobster, Russia/Ukraine still raging, failed tariff policy, $0 saved from DOGE, close to $200M worth of golfing, utterly disastrous foreign policy in every area of the world... I could keep going but I think you get the picture. All of this explains why 48% of America thinks Biden did a better job than Trump is currently doing (40%).
Well said, rtp. It's still wild that the US fell for this a second time (in 2024). Like, after the horrors of the first term, and excess deaths from the pandemic due to Trump's incompetence, you'd think we'd have learned our lesson, but no... double-down, fell for the scapegoating of trans/immigrants, etc. It's really disturbing. Then there's the new wars, bullying our allies, consolidating wealth, media, law firms, education, etc. Gotta vote these jokers out...
Well said, rtp. It's still wild that the US fell for this a second time (in 2024). Like, after the horrors of the first term, and excess deaths from the pandemic due to Trump's incompetence, you'd think we'd have learned our lesson, but no... double-down, fell for the scapegoating of trans/immigrants, etc. It's really disturbing. Then there's the new wars, bullying our allies, consolidating wealth, media, law firms, education, etc. Gotta vote these jokers out in November!
Eskimo, go home. You're drunk.
Educate yourself. 46 inherited COVID and 45 mess. At least progress being made but not now. Use your power. Just because people are ignorant does not make it correct.
At LAX they had ‘closed’ global entry but just moved the tablets they use for GE to the general line and were clearing all US citizens instantly as if all had global entry.
So who knows, maybe global entry isn’t around much longer as they seem to have enough ‘data’ to clear all US citizens instantly with a photo, barely breaking a stride. But then again it’s probably a good source of revenue so who knows
Most of us have Global, not because we use it every week, but because it’s included with our credit card benefits (at least the fee is reimbursed every 4ish years).
If there’s a way for the government to make processing easier for everyone, we should welcome that, regardless of GE.
How naive, GE is a greedy cash grab by the agency. They could have speed things up since day 1.
Maybe 1990 isn't your birth year but the year your teen mom was born.
Is this ‘real’ Eskimo, or ‘fake’ Eskimo?
The tablets in the US citizen line are a different program called Enhanced Passenger Processing - https://www.cbp.gov/travel/biometrics/enhanced-passenger-processing