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DHS shut down Global Entry on February 22. No warning, no timeline for coming back.
Secretary Kristi Noem cited funding issues and staffing shortages. The official line: redirecting personnel to help the “broader traveling population” during budget constraints and winter storms.
TSA PreCheck got axed in the same announcement. That one lasted less than 24 hours before the backlash forced a reversal.
Global Entry? Still down.
The Timeline
TSA PreCheck: Back online. TSA claims “no change for the traveling public” but added the caveat about evaluating “staffing constraints on a case-by-case basis.” Translation: it’s working until it’s not.
Mobile Passport Control (MPC): Still functional. The CBP app-based option for U.S. and Canadian citizens is processing arrivals without issues. Saves maybe 10 minutes compared to regular customs lines. Not the same as Global Entry but better than nothing.
Global Entry interviews: Completely paused. If you had an appointment scheduled, it’s cancelled. No reschedule date available.
Global Entry renewals: Frozen. Even conditional approval holders can’t complete the process.
Expedited customs lanes: Closed at affected airports. The kiosks are there, just not operational.
Known affected airports: Boston Logan, Austin-Bergstrom, Vancouver International, and others. DHS hasn’t published a complete list.
Look, I’ve flown through customs with Global Entry hundreds of times. It’s not simply a luxury perk: it’s infrastructure that works. You scan your passport, answer simple questions on a screen, and you’re through in a jiffy.
Now we find ourselved standing in the regular line at LAX behind hundreds people who just got off three international flights that landed simultaneously. Many have connections. This is not theoretical inconvenience.
The political back-and-forth doesn’t matter to anyone stuck in that line. Fund it, don’t fund it: but don’t pull the rug out with zero notice and no Plan B.
Rep. Bennie Thompson called it “purposely punishing the American people.” The U.S. Travel Association said travelers shouldn’t be “leveraged” as political pawns.
Both groups are right.
Whatever budget fight is happening in DC, shutting down a program that 10 million people paid for and depend on is bad policy. These weren’t free memberships. We paid $100 (or $120 for the five-year renewal) and went through background checks.
The PreCheck reversal proved the suspension wasn’t actually necessary. Which makes the continued Global Entry shutdown look either spiteful or incompetent. Pick one.
Use Mobile Passport Control: Download the app before your flight. Enter your info mid-flight. Get a QR code. Scan it at the MPC checkpoint. It’s not Global Entry fast but it’s faster than the standard line. Works at 55 U.S. airports.
Know your airport: Some smaller airports have shorter customs waits anyway. If you’re connecting domestically, clearing customs at a less-congested airport might save time.
*Note for NEXUS holders: If you’ve got NEXUS (for Canada- US flights), it’s also affected. Same suspension applies.
Spring break: March and April are historically heavy international travel months. If Global Entry isn’t restored by then, customs wait times at major airports could hit 2+ hours.
Summer travel: Same problem, worse volume. July and August international arrivals with no expedited screening will be a disaster at JFK, LAX, MIA, ORD.
Business travel: Companies that expense Global Entry for employees are already looking at MPC as the fallback. IT departments hate it because it requires personal devices.
Credit card perks: Cards that reimburse Global Entry fees (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, etc.) don’t have alternative benefits to swap in. You’re just out the perk.
Global Entry worked because it was pre-vetted, low-maintenance, and efficient. You didn’t need staff standing at every kiosk. The system handled volume without adding headcount.
Suspending it doesn’t save much money: these kiosks and systems are already built and paid for. But it does create massive operational problems that require more staff to manage the increased lines.
That’s the part that doesn’t track. If this is about staffing shortages, making customs slower doesn’t fix that. It makes it worse.
Don’t apply: If you were planning to apply for Global Entry, hold off. The $100 fee is non-refundable and there’s no timeline for when interviews resume.
Don’t renew yet: If your membership is expiring soon, you typically get a grace period. Wait to see if the program comes back online before paying the renewal fee.
Download MPC: Takes five minutes. Free. Works now.
Check airport wait times: CBP publishes estimated wait times for most major airports. Plan accordingly.
DHS hasn’t given a date for when Global Entry might resume. “Temporary suspension” is the only official language, which could mean days or months.
The PreCheck reversal took less than 24 hours because the blowback was immediate. Global Entry affects fewer people (10 million vs. 30+ million PreCheck members), so there’s less political pressure to fix it.
That’s bad news for anyone who travels internationally regularly.
For now, MPC is the move. Download it, use it, and hope this gets resolved before summer.
Update log: This post reflects the suspension status as of February 23, 2026. Global Entry remains offline at most airports. TSA PreCheck was restored after initial suspension. Mobile Passport Control confirmed operational.
Modhop Host & Founder Jake Redman brings years of global exploration and travel tips to the podcast and our videos at Modhop. Jake is also a Producer and Host for SiriusXM.
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