by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 8:40 AM ET, Tue February 24, 2026
Following the suspension of Global Entry by the Department of Homeland Security this past weekend, and the subsequent confusion surrounding the potential suspension of the TSA PreCheck, travel industry leaders are making their voices heard, with U.S. Travel President and CEO saying that “There is no fiscal—or logical—rationale for this decision.”
In a statement issued today, February 24, the organization’s President and CEO, Geoff Freeman, said, “Global Entry is a force multiplier for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that saves the government tens of millions of dollars annually. In 2025 alone, the use of automated biometric technology reduced arrival wait times by 70% and saved officers more than 300,000 hours; time and attention that was redirected toward screening of unknown or higher risk travelers. Suspending this critical security program does the opposite of what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends, adding volume to standard lines, stretching the very personnel the department is trying to protect and increasing security risks."
"Global Entry is far more than a convenience, it is on the front line of national security. Its more than 13 million members undergo rigorous background checks, interviews and vetting. Suspending it doesn't just slow lines. It increases costs and strips away a layer of security infrastructure that took years to build. The program is primarily funded by the $120 fee that members pay. There is no fiscal—or logical—rationale for this decision."
"We urge DHS to restore Global Entry immediately. A smarter, safer, more efficient entry process shouldn't be a casualty of a funding dispute. And nor should travelers be used as leverage to achieve a political outcome."
According to the DHS, suspending Global Entry was considered a fiscal move, though that’s clearly been debunked by travel industry experts.
The American Society of Travel Advisors also issued a statement about the confusion on Monday, February 23: "The uncertainty created by the announcements, misinformation around and reversals of the suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry is deeply concerning for travel agency professionals and their clients who rely on a stable and dependable travel system.
"In the last four months, travelers have been entangled in partisan political disputes not once, but twice. Millions of Americans rely on air travel every single day, and reckless disruptions of this magnitude create unnecessary, profoundly damaging strain. This is true for vacation travelers planning long-awaited trips and even more so for business travelers whose livelihoods depend on tight schedules and seamless mobility.
“ASTA calls on our nation’s leaders to immediately stop leveraging travel and travelers to get their way, and swiftly and decisively to restore certainty and reinforce confidence in the programs that protect secure, efficient travel for the American public."
TSA workers are currently not being paid during the partial government shutdown that’s left nearly every agency open and able to fund itself except the Department of Homeland Security, under which the TSA operates.
Airlines for America’s President and CEO Chris Sununu is also agreeing with the rest of the industry: “A4A is deeply concerned that TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs are being suspended and that the traveling public will be, once again, used as a political football amid another government shutdown. The announcement was issued with extremely short notice to travelers, giving them little time to plan accordingly, which is especially troubling at this time of record air travel."
“During last fall’s 43-day shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—more than 9,000 flights were delayed or cancelled, significantly impacting six million travelers and countless deliveries. In sum, that shutdown caused $6.1 billion of losses across the travel industry and related sectors."
“It’s past time for Congress to get to the table and get a deal done that ensures TSA can fully operate and their frontline employees can be paid for the important work they do to keep our skies secure.”
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