Relief is on the way for frequent international travelers after the Trump administration announced it would restore the Global Entry program early Wednesday morning, following a weeks-long suspension tied to an ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
According to CNN, a DHS spokesperson confirmed the program would be reactivated at 5:00 a.m. ET today, framing the move as an effort to ease airport disruptions amid what the agency called “the Democrats’ continued shutdown of the department.”
The suspension dated to February 22, when DHS announced it would stop processing Global Entry travelers at participating airports after its funding lapsed on February 14, when lawmakers failed to reach agreement on a spending bill. A parallel suspension of TSA PreCheck was reversed quickly after it was announced; Global Entry took longer to restore.
The funding dispute centers on immigration enforcement, with Democrats in Congress seeking new restrictions on ICE operations — including requirements for judicial warrants for certain home arrests and limits on face coverings during operations — while Republicans have pushed back, arguing the changes would hinder enforcement.
The impact on travelers has been tangible. In recent days, security lines at airports across the country stretched for hours as staffing shortages affected checkpoint operations.
Industry groups had been vocal in pushing for a reversal. The US Travel Association argued that suspending Global Entry would swell standard inspection lines, strain border officers and actually weaken security by diverting attention from higher-risk travelers, calling the program “far more than a convenience” and noting its more than 13 million members undergo rigorous background checks and vetting.
Global Entry, operated by US Customs and Border Protection, allows preapproved American citizens and lawful permanent residents returning from abroad to bypass standard passport-control lines using automated kiosks. Applicants pay a fee, undergo a background check and interview, and, if approved, receive the benefit for up to five years.
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