New budget shock in the United States / Airport services suspended
According to The Hill, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that, as the shutdown continues into its second week, two programs related to expedited airport screening operated by the Transportation Security Administration will be suspended starting Sunday.
The Washington Post reported that the “TSA PreCheck” and “Global Entry” programs will be temporarily halted from 6 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, as the agency seeks to reorganize its workforce and reallocate personnel to more critical sectors amid the budget deadlock.
Kristi Noem, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, stated that the department is making difficult but necessary decisions regarding workforce and resources, prioritizing the general population of travelers at airports and entry points.
She added that this marks the third time Democratic politicians have shut down the department during the 119th Congress.
Noem further emphasized that shutdowns have serious real-world consequences—not only for DHS employees and their families who go unpaid, but also for national security.
The department will also suspend premium escort services, while the Federal Emergency Management Agency will halt all non-disaster-related operations.
These developments come as negotiations between Republicans and Democrats over funding are expected to resume this week after lawmakers return from recess. Despite numerous proposals and counterproposals, the deadlock persists, and the two sides remain far from an agreement.
Democrats insist on imposing new restrictions on agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, involved in the large-scale immigration crackdown under the administration of Donald Trump, while Republicans accuse the opposing side of unwillingness to compromise.
