The Department of Homeland Security has restarted its Global Entry program, two weeks after it was halted due to the partial government shutdown. The shutdown, stemming from a dispute over Homeland Security funding and immigration, led to the reassignment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection workers, causing long security lines at airports and raising concerns about the upcoming spring travel season. The incident renews focus on preventing future travel disruptions during political impasses.
The Department of Homeland Security restarted the Global Entry program on Wednesday, a little over two weeks after it halted the service for travelers because of the partial government shutdown. The department reassigned U.S. Customs and Border Protection workers staffing the Global Entry program to process all other arriving travelers. Travelers at a handful of U.S. airports faced long security lines this past weekend, raising concerns about how the government shutdown will impact the busy spring travel season. The shutdown began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund Homeland Security. Democrats want changes to immigration operations that are central to President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign. The problems during the latest shutdown are renewing attention to ways to prevent airport security operations from being slowed during political impasses, including allowing more airports to outsource security screening while maintaining TSA oversight.
