The Department of Homeland Security on Sunday said the PreCheck program was still operational. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo
The Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program that allows travelers a quicker security experience at airports is still operational, the Department of Homeland Security said.
“At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public,” the DHS said Sunday in a statement.
“As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly.”
PreCheck is a U.S. government program that provides low-risk travelers with expedited screening at hundreds of U.S. airports.
On Saturday, the TSA said that it planned to suspend PreCheck and Global Entry programs starting 6 a.m. EST Sunday.
The reversal comes amid a partial government shutdown that began Jan. 31 when funding lapsed for several agencies. Once DHS’s funding ran out on Feb 14, it also shutdown.
The Trump administration has framed the shutdown as the fault of the Democrats after they wouldn’t sign off on any funding bill that included a budget for the DHS unless reforms by the agency were adopted.
The funding negotiations have occurred amid increasing criticism of the DHS after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by immigration agents earlier this year in Minneapolis, where the Trump administration was conducting a massive operation.
Earlier Sunday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem took to her personal X account to chastise Democratic lawmakers for “withholding @TSA workers paychecks.”
“Democrats in Congress have chosen to not fund @DHSgov, which means that all of our TSA workers who showed up today are not getting paid,” she said in the statement.
“This political theater is only making it hard on them and their families.”
Democrats have responded to the pointing fingers of Republicans by stating PreCheck and Global Entry programs reduce airport lines and ease the burden on DHS staff, so suspending the programs will make the lives of TSA workers more difficult.
“This is [President Donald] Trump and Kristi Noem purposely punishing the American people and using them as pawns for their sadistic political games,” Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss, said in a statement.
“Trump and Kristi are making your lives harder — and your travel less safe — all on purpose because they know you don’t trust them,” the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee continued.
“They would rather force Americans to miss their travel waiting in long lines at the airport than stop Trump’s secret police from shooting our neighbors.”
While PreCheck was staying in place, the Global Entry program, which is similar but speeds up passport control and immigration, was still suspended.
