The U.S. Department of Homeland Security suspended the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs Saturday, citing the ongoing partial government shutdown. These trusted traveler initiatives let pre-approved passengers skip longer security lines at airports and ease customs processing for international arrivals.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision in a statement. “Shutdowns have serious real-world consequences,” she said. TSA and Customs and Border Protection officers will now focus on the broader traveling public, Noem added, halting “courtesy and special privilege escorts.”

The shutdown started Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats seek alterations to immigration enforcement central to President Donald Trump’s deportation efforts. Noem’s statement blamed congressional inaction for forcing the cutbacks.

Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security fired back on social media. They called the suspension a deliberate sabotage, accusing the administration of “kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure” and “ruining your travel on purpose.”

Airlines for America, which represents major U.S. carriers, urged Congress to act. The group expressed deep concern that travelers face disruption yet again. “It’s past time for Congress to get to the table and get a deal done,” the organization said in a statement. It slammed the Saturday evening timing, noting travelers received almost no warning to adjust plans.

Fliers enrolled in the programs now face standard security queues. TSA PreCheck serves about 15 million members with expedited screening at over 200 U.S. airports. Global Entry covers 2.3 million participants for faster customs clearance upon re-entry from abroad.

Officials have not specified how long the suspension will last. The programs require paid enrollment and repeated background checks, funded partly by user fees. During past shutdowns, similar interruptions hit enrollment but spared active access. This time, active benefits are off-limits.

CBS 17 contacted Raleigh-Durham International Airport for local impacts. The airport handles thousands of PreCheck users daily. No immediate response was available.

Passenger advocates predict chaos at busy hubs like Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles International. Security wait times could balloon by 30 minutes or more during peak hours, according to past data from the American Society of Travel Agents.

The shutdown stems from a broader funding impasse. House Democrats passed a bill last week extending DHS operations through March 14 with immigration tweaks. Republicans blocked it, demanding strict border security measures. Senate negotiations stalled Friday night.

Trump addressed the airport programs during a White House briefing. He tied the suspension to Democratic resistance on deportations, calling it a necessary step to protect core missions. “We’re keeping the bad guys out,” he said.

Business travelers and frequent fliers vented frustration online. One user posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Paid $100 for Global Entry last year. Now grounded by politics.” Another from Chicago complained of family vacation plans upended.

TSA reports 2.3 million passengers cleared security daily on average. With PreCheck lanes closed, agents must reallocate staff. CBP handles 1.1 million daily border crossings, including air arrivals.

Airlines for America warned of cascading effects. Longer lines mean missed flights and higher costs for carriers. The group called the shutdown tactic “using the traveling public as a political football.”

Democrats plan a Monday hearing on the shutdown’s fallout. Committee Chair Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, vowed to spotlight traveler harms. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the moves as prudent resource management.

Travelers can check tsa.gov for real-time updates. Enrollment centers remain shuttered, halting new applications and renewals.