🚨 TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Just Got Paused — Here's What You Need to Know
If you were flying today expecting to breeze through the dedicated PreCheck lane, you may be in for an unwelcome surprise.
The Department of Homeland Security suspended both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry starting at 6 a.m. ET this Sunday, as the agency scrambles to redirect staff amid a funding crisis that has now stretched into its second week. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the agency is "making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions" and is prioritizing the "general traveling population" at airports and ports of entry.
So What's Actually Happening?
This shutdown is narrower than it sounds — Congress has funded every department except DHS, limiting the direct impact to an estimated 13% of the civilian federal workforce. About 95% of TSA workers — around 61,000 people — are deemed essential and must keep working without pay. Air traffic controllers aren't affected either, since they fall under the FAA, not DHS. So flights themselves aren't under immediate threat.
But the loss of PreCheck and Global Entry lanes is a real, tangible hit for frequent travelers. Those expedited lanes exist specifically to reduce crowding in standard security — so without them, everyone gets funneled into the same queue.
What This Means if You're Flying This Week
Plan for longer security lines, full stop. If you have an early morning flight, I'd add at least 30–45 minutes to your usual buffer right now. During last year's 43-day shutdown, TSA temporarily closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport, and the government took the extraordinary step of ordering airlines to reduce domestic schedules. We're not there yet — but that's the direction things go if this drags on.
Use Flight Queue to check real-time estimated security wait times at your departure airport before you leave the house — it pulls live TSA data and is genuinely useful right now. You can check specific airports directly too, like JFK, LAX, or ORD.
The first missed paychecks for TSA workers are due on March 3 — there's a real human cost building here beyond the inconvenience to travelers.
The Political Backstory
Negotiations between Republicans and Democrats are expected to resume this week when lawmakers return from recess. A stalemate has emerged, with the parties appearing no closer to reaching an agreement despite a flurry of proposals and counterproposals. Democrats have tied DHS funding to immigration enforcement reforms, while Republicans argue the agency needs the money to function.
My honest take? The suspension of PreCheck and Global Entry is being used as leverage — it's one of the few DHS cuts that directly affects millions of ordinary Americans who otherwise wouldn't notice a partial agency shutdown. Whether that creates political pressure to resolve things faster, or just becomes another point of friction, remains to be seen.
But if you paid for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and you're flying this week, you're getting none of what you paid for right now — and that's worth being annoyed about.
What To Do Right Now
Add 30–45 minutes to your airport arrival time for any flights this week.
Check live security wait times at flightqueue.com before heading to the airport.
Don't assume this resolves quickly — Congress is on recess until this week, and both sides remain dug in.
Keep an eye on your airline's app for any schedule adjustments as the situation develops.
Keep an eye on this one. If it's still unresolved by the end of the week, airport experiences could get noticeably worse. We'll keep you posted.
💬 Quick Question
Do you have TSA PreCheck or Global Entry — and are you flying this week? Hit reply and let me know how it goes at the checkpoint. I read every response!