Finally, some good travel news. After weeks of uncertainty tied to the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, the popular expedited-entry program Global Entry is officially back online.
The Trump administration announced Wednesday that Global Entry was reactivated at 5 a.m. EDT, restoring the program that allows pre-approved travelers to bypass traditional passport control lines when returning to the United States. For frequent international travelers, the return of Global Entry is a major win—bringing back faster airport arrivals and a smoother reentry process.
Why Global Entry Was Paused
The program had been suspended in February after the partial shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which began on February 14 when lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement.
During the shutdown, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reassigned officers who normally process Global Entry passengers to help manage the surge of regular arrivals. The change effectively made no sense and forced even trusted travelers to join standard passport-control lines.
The shutdown has affected multiple agencies across DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, impacting roughly 13% of the federal civilian workforce.
Trusted Traveler Programs Still Matter
Travel leaders say the reopening underscores just how important expedited screening programs have become.
Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, welcomed the decision, noting that the travel industry spent weeks advocating for the program’s return.
Freeman said programs like Global Entry and TSA PreCheck help both security and efficiency.
Trusted Traveler Programs require applicants to submit an application, pass a background check and pay a membership fee. Once approved, travelers receive expedited screening benefits at airports and border crossings.
PreCheck, which allows travelers to use faster security lanes at U.S. airports, currently has more than 20 million enrolled members. Global Entry, meanwhile, provides expedited customs processing for international arrivals and is available not only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents but also to travelers from nearly two dozen partner countries.
Interestingly, neither program was suspended during the 43-day government shutdown in 2025, making this year’s interruption particularly unusual for frequent flyers.
Shutdown Still Affecting Airport Operations
Even though Global Entry is back, the broader shutdown continues to ripple through the aviation system.
Because many federal employees are working without pay, unscheduled absences among airport security officers have more than doubled, according to reports. More than 300 TSA employees have left the agency since the shutdown began, and some airports have experienced hours-long security lines.
Travel advocates warn that the situation could worsen as workers miss paychecks.
Freeman also urged Congress to act quickly to support the aviation workforce, emphasizing that the security officers keeping airports running deserve immediate compensation.
Travel Tip: Make Sure Your Membership Is Active
If you’re traveling internationally soon, now is a good time to:
- Check that your Global Entry membership hasn’t expired
- Add your Known Traveler Number to airline reservations
- Confirm your arrival airport has Global Entry kiosks or mobile processing
With Global Entry restored, international arrivals should once again move much faster, welcome news for travelers navigating an already challenging shutdown environment. If you don’t have Global Entry, I highly recommend downloading the MPC app which is sometimes quicker (ahem, SFO).
