Major U.S. airlines have raised alarms over the abrupt suspension of the Department of Homeland Security’s PreCheck and Global Entry programs, which took effect early Sunday as a partial government shutdown enters its second week. The halt, triggered by stalled congressional negotiations on immigration reforms, has left millions of travelers scrambling at airports and border checkpoints.
Chris Sununu, CEO of Airlines for America, criticized the short notice given to travelers, stating the suspension risks repeating the $6.1 billion losses suffered by the travel industry during a similar shutdown in late 2025. "The public is being used as a political football," he said, urging lawmakers to resolve the impasse swiftly.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the agency is prioritizing essential security operations, suspending expedited screening programs affecting over 40 million vetted travelers. PreCheck and Global Entry, designed to streamline airport security and customs processes, respectively, remain paused indefinitely.
The shutdown has also forced DHS to halt non-critical operations, including Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster deployments. With no resolution in sight, industry analysts warn of cascading delays and economic repercussions for Asia-U.S. travel routes, a critical corridor for business and tourism.
