Alexandria, VA – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) strongly warns that the ongoing suspension of the Global Entry program would increase security and operational risk at U.S. airports and ports of entry, citing the potential for significant disruption of not only leisure travel but also of business travel that supports billions of dollars in direct spending annually in the U.S. and millions of American jobs.
On February 22, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made the decision to suspend the Global Entry program as a result of the partial U.S. government funding shutdown that began on February 14.
In a letter sent today to key bipartisan congressional leaders, GBTA outlined how suspending Global Entry would slow airport and border processing, reduce productivity, disrupt corporate travel, strain supply chains and weaken U.S. economic competitiveness—all at a time when companies rely on efficient travel to meet clients, manage operations, and support global commerce. For the business travel community, suspension of Global Entry, and Trusted Traveler screenings in general, would ultimately have widespread and material consequences.
Trusted traveler programs like Global Entry are essential to both security and the efficient movement of travelers—they keep airports moving while allowing security officials to focus where it matters most. Longer lines, diverted security focus, and lost productivity would be the real cost of suspending these programs, and U.S. companies and their employee travelers would feel those impacts immediately
Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA
GBTA is urging the U.S. Congress to ensure the Administration maintains and protects Global Entry which is proven and congressionally authorized program. By rigorously vetting travelers in advance through background checks, biometric enrollment, and interviews, Global Entry allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to focus limited resources on higher‑risk or unknown travelers while efficiently processing known, low‑risk passengers.
GBTA also calls on Congress to swiftly negotiate a bipartisan resolution to end the partial government shutdown to prevent further disruption for air travelers and across the broader travel ecosystem.
According to GBTA research, U.S. business travel spending is projected to reach $395.4 billion this year, making it the top market worldwide. U.S. business travel contributed nearly $421 billion annually in direct spending, supported 6 million jobs, and accounted for almost 2% of U.S. GDP and 3.5% of total employment, underscoring how critical efficient travel is to economic growth and competitiveness. For every $1.00 spent on business travel within the United States, $1.15 is returned to destination communities by way of positive economic impact.
Read GBTA’s full letter here.
About GBTA
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its 9,000+ members represent and advocate for the $1.57 trillion global business travel and meetings industry. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy, and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. For more information, visit GBTA.org and GBTAFoundation.org.