• The Department of Homeland Security suspended the Global Entry program due to a partial government shutdown, drawing immediate criticism from travel industry leaders.
• The United States Travel Association emphasized that Global Entry is self-funded by member fees and serves as a vital national security tool rather than a standard travel perk.
• Suspending the program eliminates significant operational efficiencies, which could lead to longer customs lines, stretched personnel resources, and increased security risks.
• Organizations such as the American Society of Travel Advisors and Airlines for America are urging the government to resolve the funding dispute without using the traveling public as political leverage

The travel industry has voiced strong opposition to the Department of Homeland Security’s recent decision to temporarily suspend the Global Entry program. This suspension, which occurred during a partial government shutdown, also initially caused widespread confusion regarding the operational status of the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program, though PreCheck ultimately remained active. Leading travel organizations and their executives have quickly spoken out against the suspension, arguing that it lacks both fiscal and logical justification.

Geoff Freeman, the president and chief executive officer of the United States Travel Association, highlighted the critical role that Global Entry plays in national security and operational efficiency. He pointed out that the program serves as a significant asset for Customs and Border Protection, saving the government tens of millions of dollars each year. By utilizing automated biometric technology, the program successfully reduced arrival wait times by seventy percent and saved officers more than three hundred thousand hours in 2025 alone. Freeman emphasized that this saved time allowed officers to focus their attention on screening higher-risk or unknown travelers. Consequently, he argued that suspending Global Entry increases security risks by adding volume to standard customs lines and stretching available personnel.

Furthermore, Freeman noted that the Global Entry program is largely self-funded through the application fees paid by its more than thirteen million members. These individuals undergo rigorous background checks and interviews, making the program a vital component of the nation’s security infrastructure rather than merely a travel convenience.

Other prominent industry voices echo these concerns. The American Society of Travel Advisors expressed deep concern over the uncertainty and misinformation surrounding the trusted traveler programs, stressing the negative impact on both leisure and business travelers who rely on a stable travel system. The organization urged political leaders to stop using travelers as leverage in partisan disputes. Similarly, Chris Sununu, president and chief executive officer of Airlines for America, criticized the sudden nature of the suspension, noting that it was implemented with minimal notice during a period of record air travel. He referenced a previous prolonged government shutdown that resulted in billions of dollars in losses across the travel sector, urging lawmakers to reach a swift resolution so that essential security personnel can be paid and vital travel programs can be fully restored.