DHS suspending TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs starting Sunday
Funding lapse began February 14 amid negotiations between White House and Senate Democrats
Critical DHS personnel continue working without pay
ICE and CBP personnel remain paid through previous funding approval
📖 Full Retelling
The Department of Homeland Security announced it will suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs for travelers at airports and U.S. border crossings starting at 6 a.m. ET Sunday, February 23, 2026, due to an ongoing funding lapse that began February 14. The suspension, confirmed by DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, affects popular programs that allow vetted travelers to bypass regular security lines and receive expedited processing at ports of entry. This development comes amid a broader funding standoff between the White House and Senate Democrats who are negotiating changes to DHS and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency following the deaths of two individuals during a federal crackdown on undocumented immigrants in Minneapolis. While most DHS personnel including those at FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard continue working without pay due to their critical designation, ICE and Customs and Border Protection personnel remain paid through $75 billion in funding approved under President Trump's previous spending legislation.
🏷️ Themes
Government Shutdown, Border Security, Transportation
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior, home, or public security ministries in other countries. Its missions involve anti-terrorism, civil defense, immigration and customs, b...
TSA PreCheck (branded as TSA Pre✓) is a trusted traveler program initiated in December 2013 and administered by the United States Transportation Security Administration that allows selected members of select frequent flyer programs, members of Global Entry, Free and Secure Trade, NEXUS, and SENTRI, ...
Cessation of government functions due to failure to fund
A government shutdown occurs when the legislative branch does not pass key bills which fund or authorize the operations of the executive branch, resulting in the cessation of some or all operations of a government. Government shutdowns can reduce public trust in politics.
In presidential systems, th...
Global Entry is a program of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports and via the SENTRI and NEXUS lanes by land and sea. As of 2024, Glob...
The suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs will cause significant delays and inconvenience for millions of pre-screened travelers at airports and border crossings. This disruption highlights the immediate operational impacts of the DHS funding lapse on critical security and travel facilitation services.
Context & Background
DHS funding shutdown began on February 14, 2026
The suspension affects TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs
Funding lapse stems from negotiations over DHS and ICE changes
Some DHS personnel are working without pay during the lapse
What Happens Next
Travelers will face longer security and customs lines until funding is restored and the programs resume. The suspension will remain in effect while the White House and Senate Democrats continue negotiations over DHS funding and policy changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What programs are being suspended?
TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs are being suspended.
When does the suspension start?
The suspension starts at 6 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 23, 2026.
Why are these programs being suspended?
The programs are suspended due to a funding lapse affecting the Department of Homeland Security.
Original Source
BREAKING NEWS Feb. 22, 2026, 4:10 AM UTC U.S. news DHS pausing TSA PreCheck, Global Entry programs amid funding lapse The suspension is set to start at 6 a.m. ET Sunday, a DHS spokesperson said. Travelers wait in line to clear through a TSA checkpoint at the Miami International Airport on November 10, 2025 in Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle / Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google By Julia Ainsley and Dennis Romero Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 The Department of Homeland Security is suspending frequent flier and quick-processing programs for travelers at airports and U.S. border crossings starting Sunday, a DHS official confirmed. The programs include the Transportation Security Administration's TSA PreCheck, which allows vetted passengers to forgo customary security check-in lines for quicker passage, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry, which offers similarly rapid check-ins for Americans at U.S. ports of entry. The suspension, first reported by The Washington Post, will start at 6 a.m. ET Sunday, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. The DHS funding shutdown started Feb. 14 as the White House and Senate Democrats negotiate changes to DHS and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency after two people were killed by federal law enforcement personnel in Minneapolis amid a federal crackdown on undocumented immigrants. Personnel at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard aren't being paid, though most will continue coming to work because their jobs are considered critical. ICE and Customs and Border Protection personnel are continuing their paid work under $75 billion in funding approved last year under President Donald Trump’s tax cut and spending law. Share Add NBC News to Google Julia Ainsley I am NBC News’ Senior Homeland Security Correspondent. Dennis Romero Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.