The US government is currently in the middle of yet another shutdown. This time, it’s a partial shutdown as Congress fights over the appropriations bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security. Last summer’s big, ugly funding bill gave the DHS an unprecedented $165 billion budget, but Congress still needs to approve how the funds are spent. Democrats want new restrictions for ICE and CBP agents, including mandatory body cameras, a mask ban, judicial warrants, and an end to raids on schools, hospitals, and churches. Republicans want DHS agents to be able to continue their reign of terror without consequences.
Over the weekend, ICE Barbie Kristi Noem threw a big ole hissy fit and announced that both TSA PreCheck and the Global Entry program would be suspended as a result of the shutdown. (The Clear program is privately owned, so it was not affected.) PreCheck is a government program that lets approved travelers go through an expedited airport security line. You pay a fee when you apply for it and then pay to renew it every five years. Global Entry is basically the same thing, but lets Americans who are coming back into the country bypass passport control lines. Predictably, there was public outrage, and by Sunday morning, Noem changed her mind about suspending PreCheck. As of Sunday evening, Global Entry is still suspended.
The Department of Homeland Security reversed course Sunday morning after saying that it would suspend TSA PreCheck because of the partial government shutdown.
“TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public,” the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement. “As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly.”
A DHS official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal processes, said the change was “based off of conversations the secretary had with the White House and TSA.”
The Global Entry program, however, will remain paused, according to the official.TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are two popular programs that allow some travelers to move more quickly through airport security. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem had said in a statement Saturday that the agency was “making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions” and prioritizing the “general traveling population” at airports and ports of entry.
Saturday’s announcement that TSA PreCheck would be suspended had drawn swift criticism. The ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, accused the Trump administration of punishing air travelers and increasing the burden on DHS employees by pausing the PreCheck and Global Entry programs.
“The administration must reverse this decision immediately,” he said in a statement Saturday.
Air and travel industry trade groups said pausing the programs on such short notice would be especially disruptive.Chris Sununu, president and CEO of the trade association Airlines for America, said in a statement Sunday that air travelers had become a “political football” and described the programs’ suspensions as “deeply concerning.”
“Travelers should be prioritized, not leverage,” Geoff Freeman, head of the U.S. Travel Association, an industry group, said in a statement Sunday accusing Democratic and Republican lawmakers of prioritizing politics over air traffic controllers, TSA, Customs and Border Protection, and the travel experience.
The changes the department said it would be making starting Sunday include suspending airport police escorts for members of Congress and other expedited services.
This decision doesn’t even make any sense. TSA agents are currently working without pay, and forcing a bunch of really angry travelers to go through one line is an absolute nightmare for them. Suspending Global Entry gives them more work to do, too, since now travelers who would otherwise be using a kiosk to re-enter the country have to get in line for face time with an agent. Did they think that Republicans don’t use air travel? The airline industry donated millions to Trump’s slush fund. I’m sure executives were pissed about it, too.
When I first saw that TSA was suspending those two programs, I should have been flabbergasted, but I wasn’t. This administration loves inflicting as much pain as possible, usually in the most half-assed way. I wonder if they even bothered to tell Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy about their plans before announcing it. They really thought if they caused chaos in airports, people would blame Democrats and that would get them to cave. Instead, all it did was bring more negative attention to their horrible antics.
photos credit: Aaron Schwartz/POOL via CNP/INSTARimages.com, Mattie Neretin/CNP/INSTARimages, Getty Images
I wish the Barbie nickname would die…this is a puppy murderer…not anything resembling a childhood doll beloved by many. Just call her an overly made-up surgically enhanced MAGA monster.
Agreed, everything Barbie is beautiful and positive.
Secretary Spackle & Trowel is more appropriate along with dozens of other possibilities. Keep my Barbie’s name out of your motherf***in’ mouth.
That is a totally fair point about Barbie! I always thought the nickname was sarcastic, but there are so many other things to refer to her as that I’ll find something better moving forward. 🙂
Vile ICE troll?
When this was announced, I was so angry, but then I realized there was no way all those wealthy Americans without private planes who voted for him weren’t going to complain. Global Entry is a godsend for anyone who flies more than twice a year.
Now I’m praying he keeps US Customs at Toronto’s airports so I don’t have to worry about Customs and ICE when I land. But I don’t think we’re going to get so lucky.
Very creepy commercial on the local Boston news last night, with Noem threatening immigrants and offering wacko (and completely false) promises to people who self deport. Such a POS.
These people – causing fear uncertainty dismay suffering is almost their entire reason for being, aside from base cruelty and self-profiteering.
Normally I don’t mock appearances, but in the case of puppy serial killers I’ll make an exception. Her face seems to be morphing to match her black soul. May she never know a day of peace, she’s a monster.
Such horrific skin. Can’t spackle over ugly.
It makes no sense. Global Entry is literally a kiosk that scans your face and prints out a receipt and you get waved on through. How will suspension of this help anyone? It actually makes more work for the CBP agents who I assume aren’t getting paid.
How do you justify shutting down a program that people pay extra for? Noem the Puppy Killer is so unprofessional and unqualified. Everyday I hope this is all a fever dream.