A week into the federal government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun implementing emergency protocols that will change how Americans travel and how the government responds to local emergencies. Effective at 6 a.m. today, February 22, 2026, the department has shifted to a “life-safety only” model, cutting several high-profile services to keep core security operations running.
The most immediate changes will be felt at the nation’s airports. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have officially suspended all “courtesy escorts” and special privileges.
This includes ending dedicated police and staff escorts for Members of Congress, a move DHS officials say is necessary to move every available officer back to standard security checkpoints and passenger screening.
READ: Stalemate In D.C.: DHS Funding Frozen As Both Sides Dig In Over Immigration Reform
International travelers will also see a shift, as CBP has halted all Global Entry arrival processing. While Global Entry kiosks will be offline, members are being redirected to standard primary processing lanes for U.S. citizens and lawful residents.
“This is the third time that Democrat politicians have shut down this department during the 119th Congress,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“Shutdowns have real world consequences, not just for the men and women of DHS and their families who go without a paycheck, but it endangers our national security,” Noem continued. “The American people depend on this department every day, and we are making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions to mitigate the damage inflicted by these politicians.”
The impact extends beyond the airport terminal. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has entered an emergency operating status, effectively pausing all work that isn’t tied to an immediate, active threat to life.
Under these new restrictions, FEMA is halting:
- Long-term recovery projects: Ongoing rebuilding efforts from older disasters are now on hold.
- Non-disaster grants: Administrative processing for new initiatives and pilot programs has been suspended.
- Routine travel: Personnel deployments are now restricted strictly to active, life-safety emergencies.
This pivot to “bare-minimum” operations comes at a precarious time, as meteorologists forecast a significant winter storm expected to hit the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast corridors this weekend.
FEMA officials confirmed that while they will respond to the incoming storm if it poses an imminent danger to public health, the broader “Public Assistance” programs used by local governments for infrastructure repair will remain frozen until a budget is passed.
While TSA PreCheck currently remains operational, DHS cautioned that staffing constraints could lead to case-by-case adjustments if the shutdown continues. For now, the department’s priority remains clear: redirecting every available resource from “special privileges” and administrative tasks toward the front lines of border security and aviation safety.
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