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The U.S. government partially shut down on Feb. 14, 2026, after lawmakers failed to reach a compromise on funding legislation for the Department of Homeland Security. If you have upcoming air travel, this could lead to potential disruptions.
» Learn more: When will the government shut down?
The Department of Homeland Security oversees the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection. That means that essential workers — including TSA officers — are working without pay until the shutdown is over. Past shutdowns have led to more federal employee absences, longer security lines and more flight delays.
Some airports have even warned passengers that TSA wait times could exceed three hours, so it's best to arrive early before your flight.
How would a government shutdown affect air travel?
Air travel should continue as normal during a partial government shutdown. As essential workers, TSA officers are expected to continue to work, but they won’t get paid until the shutdown is over.
TSA PreCheck, which helps travelers speed through security checkpoints, and Global Entry, which allows travelers to pass through U.S. customs quickly, are still operational. DHS first announced that both programs would be paused on Feb. 22, 2026, then quickly reversed course on TSA PreCheck but moved forward with its Global Entry suspension. On March 11, DHS resumed Global Entry operations.
As the DHS shutdown drags on, some federal workers may call out sick at higher rates. One day during the nation’s shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019, TSA reported that 10% of its officers were missing work for an unscheduled absence.
The saga forced some airports to close security checkpoints and caused long waits for some travelers.
Air traffic controllers — who were impacted in the 2025 government shutdown — would not be affected by this shutdown, since they fall under the Department of Transportation.
» Learn more: How would a government shutdown affect you?
Can I still get Global Entry and TSA PreCheck during a shutdown?
Applications for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck will remain open during a government shutdown. TSA PreCheck is a fee-funded program, so it will continue to enroll members.
As of Feb. 23, 2026, appointments for Global Entry interviews are still available. But it's unclear if that availability will continue. During the 2018 to 2019 shutdown, Global Entry appointments at some enrollment centers were canceled with no rescheduled date in sight.
Would national parks and passport processing be affected by a shutdown?
In a complete government shutdown, staffing for national parks and passport processing could be affected. However, those services are operated by the Interior Department and the State Department, respectively, so they won’t be impacted by a partial shutdown that’s focused on the Department of Homeland Security.
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