President Donald Trump’s administration reversed course yesterday on the programme that lets millions of airline travellers get expedited security screening, announcing it will remain operational after earlier saying it would be suspended amid a shutdown of much of the Homeland Security Department.
The department said the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck programme will remain operational, though the administration apparently has suspended a second programme called Global Entry that expedites US customs and immigration clearance for pre-approved, low-risk international travellers entering the United States.
The initial announcement that the PreCheck programme would be halted effective at 6am EST (1100 GMT) yesterday raised alarm among travel groups and airlines as a busy travel season involving students on spring break starts in the United States.
More than 20 million people are enrolled in PreCheck, which allows approved passengers to go through a dedicated, faster security lane at US airports and is designed to reduce wait times and streamline screening.
The Homeland Security Department is in the midst of a partial shutdown due to a lapse in funding by Congress as Republicans and Democrats differ on immigration enforcement policies.
The department late on Saturday announced a suspension of both the PreCheck and Global Entry programs, citing the shutdown.
The department did not suspend either programme during a 43-day government shutdown last year.
About four hours after the suspension was to have begun, a TSA spokesperson told Reuters PreCheck “remains operational with no change for the traveling public. As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly.”
The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the status of Global Entry.
“Everyone knows Donald Trump and DHS use bullying tactics – this is another one of them,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said of suspending Global Entry.
“The Trump administration is choosing to inflict pain on the public instead of adopting commonsense ICE reforms,” Schumer added, referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency that has played a key role in carrying out the Republican president’s hardline immigration enforcement policies.
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