Global Entry kiosks went dark on February 22, 2026. Here's what that means for your credit card benefits, your membership, and your travel plans this week.
What Happened
On February 14, a partial government shutdown hit the Department of Homeland Security after Congress failed to agree on DHS funding. For the first week, airport programs continued normally. Then on February 21, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry would be suspended starting 6 AM ET on February 22 to "preserve limited funds and personnel." (DHS official statement)
The backlash was immediate. Within hours, TSA reversed course on PreCheck — it remains operational with "case-by-case staffing adjustments." But Global Entry wasn't so lucky. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that all Global Entry arrival processing at participating airports has been halted. Officers previously assigned to Global Entry kiosks have been reassigned to process general travelers.
For context on how the previous November shutdown affected travel insurance and trip delay benefits, see our government shutdown travel insurance breakdown.
Current Status (Updated February 23, 2026)
| Program | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| TSA PreCheck | ✅ Operational | Working at most airports. Some staffing adjustments possible. |
| Global Entry | ❌ Suspended | Kiosks offline at all US airports. No end date. |
| Enrollment & Renewals | ⏸️ Paused | New applications and interviews on hold during shutdown. |
Unlike previous shutdowns where these programs kept running with reduced staff, this is the first time Global Entry has been formally suspended. Travelers returning to the US internationally now face standard passport control lines — reports from Dallas-Fort Worth and Boston Logan describe 30+ minute waits where Global Entry members typically clear in under 5 minutes.
What This Means for Your Credit Card Benefits
If you hold a premium travel credit card, you likely used one of these cards to pay for Global Entry and received a statement credit:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve — Reimburses up to $120 every 4 years
- Chase Sapphire Preferred — Reimburses up to $120 every 4 years
- Amex Platinum — Reimburses up to $120 every 4 years
- Amex Gold — Reimburses up to $120 every 4 years
- Capital One Venture X — Reimburses up to $120 every 4 years
- Capital One Venture — Reimburses up to $120 every 4 years
Not sure which of your cards offers this benefit? Add your cards to Norte to see all your travel perks in one place.
The reimbursement covers the application fee, not ongoing service access — so the suspension doesn't affect your benefit in any way. You can verify your card's specific terms on Chase's Global Entry page, Amex's Trusted Traveler portal, or Capital One's help center.
Is Your Card Benefit Affected?
Short answer: no. If your card already reimbursed the $120 Global Entry fee, you're not out any money. The reimbursement covers the application fee, not ongoing service access. Your 4-year reimbursement cycle is completely unaffected by the suspension.
This means there's nothing to dispute or request back from your card issuer — the benefit worked exactly as intended. The suspension is a government operations issue, not a credit card benefits issue.
What About Chargebacks? Don't.
Some travelers may be tempted to file a chargeback for "services not rendered." This is a bad idea. A chargeback against a government program could result in your Global Entry membership being permanently revoked. The fee covers your application and vetting, not a guarantee of uninterrupted kiosk access. CBP can and does ban members who dispute program fees.
What If Your Membership Expires During the Shutdown?
This is the one scenario that actually matters. If your Global Entry membership is up for renewal during the shutdown, enrollments and interviews are frozen — you can't renew even if you want to. During previous shutdowns, CBP extended membership periods to account for lost service time. Monitor cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry for updates on extensions.
If you were planning to apply or renew, wait. Don't pay the $120 fee until the shutdown ends and processing resumes — there's no reason to have money tied up in a frozen system. Your card will reimburse it whenever you do pay.
What You Should Do Right Now
1. Know your travel benefits. The shutdown affects more than just Global Entry — flight delays, cancellations, and longer security lines can trigger other card benefits like trip delay coverage and baggage protection. Set up your wallet on Norte — just select your cards from our database and instantly see every travel benefit you're paying for, including trip delay reimbursement, lounge access, and more. No need to link any accounts — all benefit data comes from our database.
2. Use Mobile Passport Control as a backup. DHS has not suspended the free Mobile Passport Control app. If you're returning to the US internationally during the shutdown, download it — it's the next best option for faster customs processing.
3. Don't panic about PreCheck. TSA PreCheck is still running. Your Known Traveler Number still works. If you only have PreCheck (not Global Entry), you're unaffected.
4. Hold off on new applications. If you were planning to apply or renew Global Entry, interviews are frozen. Wait until the shutdown ends — your card will reimburse the fee whenever you pay it, and there's no reason to start a process that can't be completed.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 DHS shutdown is the first time Global Entry has been formally suspended. If you're a Global Entry member, expect delays on international returns until Congress reaches a funding deal. Your credit card reimbursement benefit is completely unaffected. The main thing to watch is whether your membership expires during the shutdown — if it does, CBP will likely extend it as they have in past shutdowns. For trip delay and cancellation coverage lessons from the November shutdown, check our previous shutdown travel insurance breakdown.
Not sure what travel benefits your cards cover? Set up your wallet on Norte — select your cards from our database and instantly see every hidden benefit, from Global Entry reimbursement to airport lounge access to rental car coverage. No account linking needed — takes 2 minutes.