In a statement on the suspension of Global Entry, U.S. Travel President and CEO Geoff Freeman said that: “Global Entry is a force multiplier for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that saves the government tens of millions of dollars annually. In 2025 alone, the use of automated biometric technology reduced arrival wait times by 70% and saved officers more than 300,000 hours; time and attention that was redirected toward screening of unknown or higher risk travellers.”
And Freeman continued: “Suspending this critical security program does the opposite of what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends, adding volume to standard lines, stretching the very personnel the department is trying to protect and increasing security risks.”
U.S. Travel’s President and CEO points out that: “Global Entry is far more than a convenience, it is on the front line of national security. Its more than 13 million members undergo rigorous background checks, interviews and vetting. Suspending it doesn’t just slow lines. It increases costs and strips away a layer of security infrastructure that took years to build.”
He continued: “The program is primarily funded by the $120 fee that members pay. There is no fiscal—or logical—rationale for this decision.”
And Freeman concluded: “We urge DHS to restore Global Entry immediately. A smarter, safer, more efficient entry process shouldn’t be a casualty of a funding dispute. And nor should travelers be used as leverage to achieve a political outcome.”
Tags: Geoff Freeman, U.S. Travel Association
