CHICAGO (WLS) — TSA announced that PreCheck services will continue to operate without change, despite the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement.
On Saturday evening, DHS said TSA PreCheck and Global Entry would be suspended Sunday due to the partial government shutdown.
Meanwhile, flights have been canceled and delayed at Chicago airports amid a major nor’easter winter storm.
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DHS said the suspension was set to begin at 5 a.m. local time Sunday, however, ABC7 spotted travelers in Chicago getting through without issue at 6 a.m.
Later in the morning, TSA said PreCheck would remain operational with no change.
“TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly,” a TSA spokesperson said in a statement.
RELATED | DHS suspends Global Entry as partial government shutdown drags on; PreCheck still operational
The updated announcement added that courtesy escorts, such as those for members of Congress, were suspended “to allow officers to focus on the mission of securing America’s skies.”
The partial government shutdown began Feb. 14, after lawmakers failed to reach a deal on funding for DHS following growing calls to change immigration operations.
On Saturday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement that “shutdowns have serious real world consequences.” She also said that “TSA and CBP are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts.”
A major nor’easter is set to barrel through the Northeast Coast Sunday into Monday, dumping at least a foot of snow or more and prompting the first blizzard warning for New York City in nearly a decade.
Overall, 40 million Americans are under a blizzard warning for the storm and another 14 million are facing winter storm warnings.
Chicago airport cancellations and delays as of 5:30 p.m. Sunday:
– O’Hare: 133 cancellations, average delays 16 minutes
– Midway: 23 cancellations, average delays less than 15 minutes
The governors of seven Northeast states have declared states of emergencies as a severe winter snowstorm was moving up the East Coast.
States of emergency have been declared in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a “state of preparedness” as the storm intensified Sunday afternoon.
The governors are advising people to stay off the roadways and highways during the storm, and several states — including New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island — have issued travel bans.
ABC News contributed to this report.
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