The Department of Homeland Security backtracked on its announcement suspending the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program as the agency contends with a partial government shutdown that has entered its second week. Thanks to Dems.
Two DHS officials told CBS News that TSA PreCheck should remain open after the decision revers al but noted that "that's being handled airport by airport."
In an earlier, a spokesperson for TSA had told CBS News that PreCheck "remains operational with no change for the traveling public," but
said that if staffing constraints arise due to the ongoing shutdown, it would "evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly."
"Courtesy escorts, such as those for Members of Congress, have been suspended to allow officers to focus on the mission of securing America's skies," the spokesperson said.
Global Entry, another TSA program, was closed to travelers, following some confusion over its status at airports and other ports of entry, according to the DHS officials. Customs and Border Protection officers normally assigned to process Global Entry travelers will be reassigned to process all other arriving travelers.
In a statement provided to CBS News Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that TSA and CBP "are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts."
Also DHS officials said the TSA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency would enter emergency operating status. This meant that FEMA would suspend all non-disaster-related missions and was under travel restrictions due to the ongoing funding standoff, although the agency remained operational and supporting state and local responses to the winter storm.
