Update (1200ET):It appears the potential blowback from shutting PreCheck and Global Entry was just too much to bear asJake Sherman reportsthe Trump admin has reverted back to normal on PreCheck but has adjusted its policy in response to the govt shutdown.
"At this time,TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public.
As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly.
Courtesy escorts, such as those for Members of Congress, have been suspendedto allow officers to focus on the mission of securing America’s skies."
All of which left us wondering - Why do members of Congress get a courtesy escort?
American air travelers were set up for quite a rude Sunday shock, asthe Department of Homeland Security suddenly decided to suspend two optional programs that promise fliers speedier passage through TSA security checkpointsin exchange for money. The move, first reported by theWashington Poston Saturday night and still unannounced by the TSA on itswebsiteorXaccount in the early Sunday morning hours, is supposedly necessitated by the ongoing shutdown of DHS.
According to thePost, theTSA PreCheck and Global Entry programswill be temporarily suspended effective 6am ET on Sunday. The government's failure to provide advance notice will put unknowing travelers atrisk of missing flights, as many will have no idea that they should have adjusted their plans to allow additional time to wait in security lines.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, already enmeshed in controversy and questions about her leadership of the department, told thePostthat the shutdown was forcing TSA to make"tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions,” with priority given to "general traveling populations."Never mind that PreCheck enrollees typically pay$85for five years of access to a speedier security process, or that Global Entry sets travelers back$120for five years. The latter program includes PreCheck benefits and also provides expedited customs processes when returning from abroad.
About athirdof US passengers use PreCheck-- some of them at no cost, such as military service members, Department of Defense civilian employees, and people enrolled in some credit card reward programs. However, the closure of PreCheck will also affect those who aren't in the program, sincethe regular lines are set to grow 50% larger on Sunday.
Compounding the potential aggravation,Noem's ambush on PreCheck and Global Entry travelers coincides with the pending arrival of a blizzardthat's set to hammer parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States on Sunday and overnight. Some forecasts predict upwards of one or two feet of snow being dumped on major cities like Philadelphia, New York and Boston, paralyzing major airports. Airlines have already proactively cancelledthousandsof flights.
Source: ZeroHedge News
