Are TSA PreCheck and Global Entry Delayed by the Shutdown?

(UNITED STATES) Processing times for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry have slowed sharply since the federal government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, creating fresh uncertainty for frequent flyers and families with upcoming trips. Applications for both trusted traveler programs remain open, but interviews are being delayed or rescheduled, and approvals are taking longer than usual.

People applying now are being told to expect extended waits, while those already in the queue are seeing their timelines pushed back. The disruption is hitting travelers planning fall and winter trips as the holiday season approaches, and it’s stirring concern among applicants who counted on these programs to speed them through airport lines.

Why enrollments continue, but processing is slower

TSA officials continue to accept new enrollments because TSA PreCheck is fee-funded, meaning the program can keep running even during a shutdown. That status matters: it allows the pipeline of applicants to stay open and lets people submit their information and fees, but it doesn’t prevent knock-on effects inside the wider system.

While enrollments proceed:

• The approval process and the scheduling of required in-person appointments are moving more slowly than normal.
• Applicants who expected a quick turnaround are encountering pauses before they can lock in an interview slot.
• Final approvals may take longer to arrive even after interviews are completed.

Global Entry facing heavier strain

By contrast, Global Entry — run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — is under heavier strain.

• Appointment availability at enrollment centers has been curtailed.
• Interviews are being delayed or rescheduled during the shutdown period, compounding a backlog CBP has been working through for years.
• Applicants who submitted months ago or who were waiting on interview dates before October are seeing those timelines stretch further.
• New applicants are entering an already-long system, with the shutdown adding another layer of delay.

Practical impacts on travelers

The slowdown shows up at checkpoints and border crossings:

• Travelers hoping to secure TSA PreCheck before a domestic trip are less likely to receive approval in time.
• New Global Entry applicants may not be able to complete interviews before international travel.
• Families juggling schedules, parents traveling with children, and business travelers with tight itineraries face increased stress.
• Many are pushed back into standard security and passport control lines, where wait times can spike—especially during busy holiday travel.

Important: Officials have not offered a specific timeline for when the slowdown will ease, and there is no clear estimate of how quickly the backlog will be cleared once normal operations resume.

Who is most affected

• International students returning after short trips found conditional approvals stalled or interviews postponed.
• Frequent-travel workers (e.g., healthcare consultants, technicians) are recalculating connections without PreCheck’s faster lanes.
• Families with elderly or very young children face the prospect of longer, more tiring waits.

Tips for current members and reservation planning

Applicants who already hold a Known Traveler Number (KTN) can still see benefits on boarding passes, but must be careful when booking:

• Airlines often require the KTN to be correctly entered in the passenger profile or reservation for the TSA PreCheck indicator to appear.
• Some travelers discover at the airport that benefits didn’t populate because the KTN was missing.

Travel agents and officials advise:

• Double-check your KTN is attached to each reservation.
• Verify passenger profiles and bookings in advance to ensure the PreCheck indicator displays.

Global Entry interviews: no remote substitute

The Global Entry interview is a required in-person step:

• Most applicants need an appointment at an enrollment center.
• During the shutdown, available slots are tighter and staffing is uneven.
• Applicants willing to travel to less-busy centers still find fewer open times.
• On-arrival processing options at certain airports are also more limited right now.

How people are responding

Prospective travelers are split:

1. Some apply now, hoping an early start places them earlier when operations resume.
2. Others postpone until the government fully reopens and processes stabilize.

Travel planners’ recommendations:

• If you have firm international travel in early 2026, build in extra time at security and passport control.
• Avoid tight connecting flights; allow larger buffers.
• Start applications earlier—many advisors suggest allowing up to six months lead time when possible.

Broader ripple effects for airports and airlines

• More passengers in standard lanes cause faster bottlenecks during peak hours.
• Checkpoint flow and inspection areas can slow, particularly in space-constrained terminals.
• Airlines watch for increased missed connections and are reminding customers to:
  • Double-check Known Traveler Numbers in reservations.
  • Be aware that status may not help if approval hasn’t finalized.

Official resources

Travelers who want to proceed with applications or check current status should consult official program pages. For Global Entry, CBP maintains guidance and enrollment information, including updates about interviews and enrollment centers. Monitor your local center’s appointment availability at CBP’s official page: CBP Global Entry.

For TSA PreCheck, TSA continues to process enrollments but warns of delays in interview scheduling and approvals tied to the broader slowdown.

The structural difference between TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

• TSA PreCheck: Fee-funded, stays open to new applications, but still experiences slowdowns in coordination and appointment-related steps.
• Global Entry: Operated by CBP, already had a larger backlog; interview capacity is more limited, so the shutdown has a sharper effect.

Taken together, travelers should assume both application and interview steps will take longer than they did before October 1, 2025.

Practical guidance and final takeaways

• Expect longer processing times during the shutdown and plan accordingly.
• If your travel is fixed, apply sooner rather than later; many experts recommend up to six months lead time when possible.
• Arrive earlier at the airport, plan for standard screening, and ensure any existing Known Traveler Numbers are properly saved in reservations.
• Current program benefits remain for active members, but those between application and approval will feel the most impact.

Key takeaway: TSA PreCheck and Global Entry still function, but the path to enrollment is slower during the government shutdown, so patience and early planning are essential.