The Department of Homeland Security reinstated the Global Entry program on Wednesday morning after suspending it on Feb. 22, citing the partial government shutdown.
“As DHS continually evaluates measures it can take amidst the Democrats’ continued shutdown of the department, DHS will be reactivating Global Entry on March 11th at 5:00 AM ET,” a DHS spokesperson emailed in a statement to The Washington Post.
Global Entry provides expedited customs clearance to preapproved, low-risk travelers from the United States and a selection of participating countries. It costs $120 for a five-year membership and also enrolls members into TSA PreCheck. While the program was suspended, lines at the airport were unpredictable for international travelers, with some reporting waiting at customs for more than an hour while others said they got through the process in minutes.
Though Global Entry is back, travelers may still face longer-than-normal linesat the airport while the partial shutdown continues. The Transportation Security Administration is facing staffing issues at security checkpoints as officers are asked to work without pay.
Meanwhile, U.S. airlines are bracing for a spring break surge and expect 171 million passengers to fly through April 30, according to projections by trade group Airlines for America.
On Sunday, the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston warned travelers that security wait times during this period could exceed 120 minutes, citing the uptick of passengers and fewer open TSA lanes.
In a statement issued Wednesday morning, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman applauded the decision to resume Global Entry, but urged Congress to support TSA 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,” Freeman said. “The travel industry will continue working with policymakers to ensure these programs remain strong and that the aviation workforce gets the support it needs.”
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