Quick note before we start: I’m writing this on Sunday night, but you’re probably reading it Monday afternoon — and a lot can change in between.
That’s what makes this moment tricky for travelers. You can leave the country expecting your usual routine on the way back — Global Entry, a quick line, a predictable process — and land in a situation that looks nothing like what you planned for. Things are shifting fast enough that even people who follow this closely are struggling to keep up.
I ran into that tonight. Like a lot of frequent travelers, I went looking for quick, reliable updates. One of the first places I checked was the TSA’s X feed, which has usually been pretty helpful for fast info.
Except this time, it wasn’t. Instead of updates, there was a notice saying the account wouldn’t be actively managed during a lapse in federal funding.
And that’s when it hit me: it’s not just that things can change — it’s that the usual ways we keep up with those changes might not be there when we need them.
Assume TSA PreCheck Works — But Prepare For No Global Entry
Right now, it looks like TSA PreCheck will continue operating as usual. But if you’re traveling internationally, it’s smart to plan for the possibility that Global Entry won’t be available when you return.
No, that doesn’t make much sense. A system designed around vetted travelers should be the last thing you’d want to disrupt. But we’re past the point of expecting everything to make sense.
So instead of trying to predict the outcome, I’d adjust expectations: plan your return as if it could be slower than normal — and treat anything faster as a bonus.
What I’d Do Before Leaving The U.S.
If you don’t have it already, download the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app. It’s one of the better backups if Global Entry isn’t available.
But I wouldn’t treat MPC like a magic solution. If everyone suddenly piles into the same fallback option, it can get overwhelmed, too.
I’d also avoid scheduling tight connections after landing back in the U.S. This isn’t the moment to assume you’ll clear in five minutes and sprint to a domestic gate.
And if you’re flying home through a U.S. pre-clearance airport, be prepared for the wait to happen before you board. Otherwise, be prepared to wait upon arrival. It’s better to expect the slower version of your return than to be surprised by it.
Real-Time Traveler Reports May Be The Only Way To Keep Up
In a normal week, you can follow official updates and get a pretty clear picture.
Right now, that picture feels fuzzier. If official channels go quiet, real-time traveler experiences start to matter more. Not as gospel — but as useful data points. If you see a pattern of reports about long pre-clearance lines or MPC moving quickly at a specific airport, that may be the best “current” information you can get.
The line is annoying. The uncertainty is worse.
When updates go quiet, travelers do what they always do: refresh, search, scan posts, and hope someone — anyone — has a current answer.
That’s not how this is supposed to work. But it is how it’s working right now. So travel like you’ll have to solve the problem yourself when you land — and prepare accordingly.
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