Homeland Security reactivates major Global Entry program for travelers amid shutdown

While the lapse in funding at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues, officials have announced that the Global Entry program has resumed.

�reactivated” on Wednesday at 5 a.m.ET, “as DHS continually evaluates measures it can take amidst the Democrats’ continued shutdown of the department.

“We are working hard to alleviate the disruptions to travelers caused by theDemocrats’ shutdown,” the statement continued.

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Customs and Border Protection (CBP) halted Global Entry at airports last month during the start of the partial government shutdown.It diverted agents to help process travelers instead.

Global Entry expedites the U.S.customs ‌and immigration clearance process for pre-approved, low-risk travelers entering the United States.

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DHS reactivated its Global Entry program on Wednesday morning.

Travelers must apply for the program and pay a fee of $120 that lasts five years.

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TSA PreCheck remains operational and open atmost U.S.airports— although lanes are being evaluated on a case-by-case basis due to staffing constraints.

spring break travelis in full swing.

TSA agents have been grappling with partial paychecks — and soon-to-be-empty paychecks if the shutdown persists.

CBP halted Global Entry at airports last month during the start of the partial government shutdown.(Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The shutdown is causing massive delays at some airports across the country, with wait times for travelers of 3.5 hours reported at major hubs due to officer shortages.

TSA advises passengers to arrive “as early as possible” to avoid missing their flights.

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Airlines for America (A4A), an industry trade group based in Washington, D.C., projects that 171 million travelers will take to the skies between March 1 and April 30 — marking a 4% increase over last year.

TSA advises passengers to arrive “as early as possible” to avoid missing their flights.(Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

On average, airlines expect to carry about 2.8 million passengers per day during this period.

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Chris Sununu, A4A’s CEO, recently urged Congress and the administration to act quickly to end this shutdown.

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“America’s transportation security workforce is too important to be used as political leverage,” Sununu said in a statement.

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�s Kelly McGreal contributed to this report. 

Ashley J.