On Saturday, February 21, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the suspension of the Global Entry program, which allows pre-verified foreign passengers to skip immigration counters upon arrival in the country. This suspension occurred due to a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security that began on February 14, arising from an impasse between Democrats and Republicans over budget legislation needed to fund the department. A key issue in the negotiations has been the Democrats' demand for changes to anti-immigration operations conducted by ICE under President Donald Trump's administration.

Originally, another similar program known as TSA PreCheck, which enables passengers to bypass airport security lines, was also set to be suspended; however, this decision was reversed by the Department of Homeland Security the following Sunday. As TSA PreCheck continues to operate normally at American airports, there is still no timeline provided for the reinstatement of the Global Entry program, creating uncertainty for international travelers who rely on this expedited entry process.

The political context surrounding this suspension highlights ongoing tensions between the White House and Congress over immigration policy and funding for immigration enforcement agencies. With the Global Entry program being an essential travel facilitation tool, its suspension could impact tourism and business travel, prompting calls for a resolution to the funding impasse in order to restore the program's operations soon.