The US government shutdown is set to affect airport travel, with fast-track security and entry programmes temporarily suspended starting Sunday, February 22 at 6am Eastern Time, a move that could mean longer queues for some passengers flying into or out of the country.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it will pause TSA PreCheck and Global Entry as part of emergency measures to redirect staffing during the funding lapse, a development first reported by TheWashington Post.
DHS Secretary Kristi L. Noem said the agency is “making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions" while prioritising the broader travelling public at airports and ports of entry.
For travellers, especially international passengers and frequent flyers who rely on expedited screening, the change could mean losing access to dedicated fast-track lanes and facing regular security and immigration checks.
Starting Sunday morning, the DHS will temporarily stop operating TSA PreCheck and Global Entry screening services, according to the department. The agency is also suspending airport police escorts for members of Congress and other expedited services, TheWashington Postreported.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will halt all non-disaster response work to prioritise emergencies, Noem said, citing an incoming winter storm.
Officials say the measures are designed to shift limited staffing toward essential security and travel operations while funding remains stalled.
The disruption stems from a funding standoff after Congress failed to approve additional money for DHS before its budget expired on February 14.
Democrats have sought new restrictions on federal agents following the fatal shootings of two US citizens in Minneapolis last month, demanding reforms such as body cameras, judicial warrants for raids and limits on operations at sensitive sites like schools and churches.
The White House negotiated with Democratic lawmakers, but no agreement was reached before funding ran out. Congress has been on a scheduled recess, with talks continuing behind the scenes, according to TheWashington Post.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
