The Division of Homeland Safety is briefly suspending its TSA PreCheck and International Entry packages because of the company’s lapse in funding.
“TSA and CBP are prioritizing the overall touring inhabitants at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and particular privilege escorts,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned in an announcement.
The 2 packages, which permit expedited clearance processes for pre-vetted home and worldwide vacationers, are anticipated to be suspended beginning at 6 a.m. ET Sunday, based on a DHS official.
Vacationers wait in line to test in at a safety checkpoint space at O’Hare Worldwide Airport, in Chicago, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.
Nam Y. Huh/AP
The DHS personnel assigned to those packages shall be redirected to help the broader touring public.
It is a uncommon transfer and can lead to longer strains, doubtless irritating many vacationers. The 2 packages weren’t suspended throughout final yr’s authorities shutdown.
The choice to droop these packages comes because the anticipated winter storm has already cancelled greater than 5,000 flights throughout the nation and as flights resume, vacationers will be anticipated to be ready in lengthy strains. It additionally comes simply weeks earlier than the spring break journey rush.
As well as, the Federal Emergency Administration Company may even halt “all non-disaster associated response to prioritize disasters,” Noem mentioned, underscoring the impression of the upcoming winter storm.
The rating member on the Home Homeland Safety Committee, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson blasted the transfer.
“That is Trump and Kristi Noem purposely punishing the American individuals and utilizing them as pawns for his or her sadistic political video games,” Johnson mentioned in an announcement. “TSA PreCheck and International Entry REDUCE airport strains and ease the burden on DHS workers who’re working with out pay due to Trump’s abuse of the Division and killing of Americans,” he mentioned.
“Trump and Kristi are making your lives tougher — and your journey much less secure — all on goal as a result of they know you do not belief them. They pulled these video games with FEMA catastrophe response final week, now this insanity. They’d relatively pressure People to overlook their journey ready in lengthy strains on the airport than cease Trump’s secret police from capturing our neighbors.”
U.S. Journey, a non-profit group that represents the nation’s journey trade additionally expressed its “disappointment” and criticized the transfer in a post on X writing, “Vacationers needs to be prioritized, not leveraged. Journey is the gateway to the American economic system and People shouldn’t have their mobility, safety or journey expertise diminished as a result of elected leaders fail to resolve their variations.”
The short-term suspension was first reported by the Washington Publish.
