International travelers who paid for the Global Entry program will once again be able to use it when entering the U.S., even as the Department of Homeland Security remains shut down.
The program operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection offers “expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States,” per the agency’s website.
Applying for the program requires a $120 fee and a background check, and once accepted, a person has Global Entry membership for five years.
The service resumed Wednesday.
DHS paused the Global Entry program on Feb. 22, a week after a lapse in funding started the department’s shutdown, so that the officers assigned to handle those travelers could be redirected to handle others.
A department spokesperson told USA Today that “we are working hard to alleviate the disruptions to travelers caused by the Democrats’ shutdown,” but did not specify why the Global Entry service is being resumed despite the continued lapse in funding.
Democrats, on the other hand, insist that the Global Entry pause was political theater.
“Notably, both Global Entry and its domestic equivalent TSA PreCheck were operational in 2025, including during the shutdown of October 1-November 12. … The administration should be focused on working with us on real solutions, not on inflicting pain for American travelers as a political stunt,” Sen. Mark Warner, Virginia Democrat, said last month.
The U.S. Travel Association welcomed the change, but also called on leaders to ensure Transportation Security Administration agents get paid. About 50,000 TSA personnel are on track to receive no pay for two weeks of work on Friday, according to Reuters.
“We welcome today’s decision by the White House and leaders at U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reopen Global Entry and reaffirm the value of Trusted Traveler Programs. … Congress must also act to support the Transportation Security Officers who keep our aviation system functioning. These essential employees continue to report to work without pay during the partial government shutdown, and they deserve to be compensated without delay,” U.S. Travel Association CEO Geoff Freeman said in a statement.
