Good news for East County and Santee travelers: TSA PreCheck will continue operating at airports, including San Diego International Airport, after a sudden reversal Sunday following a Saturday night announcement that the expedited security program was being suspended during the partial government shutdown.

The Transportation Security Administration said Sunday that its PreCheck program would remain operational despite an earlier statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that the service was being paused. The DHS had announced Saturday night it was taking "emergency measures to preserve limited funds," listing the suspension of PreCheck lanes and Global Entry service among those steps.

"As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis and adjust operations accordingly," the agency said Sunday. Airport lines appeared largely unaffected through midday Sunday, with wait times listed at under 15 minutes at most international airports, according to TSA's mobile app.

The partial government shutdown began Feb. 14 after Congress and the White House were unable to reach a deal on Department of Homeland Security funding. Democrats have been demanding changes to immigration enforcement operations as part of any funding agreement. The turmoil drew sharp pushback from travel industry groups, airlines, and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.

For Santee and East County residents, the reversal means planned trips through San Diego International Airport should not be disrupted — for now. However, the status of Global Entry, a separate U.S. Customs and Border Protection program that speeds international arrivals through customs kiosks, remained unclear as of Sunday. TSA said one service would definitely be affected: courtesy escorts for members of Congress have been suspended to focus officers on airport security. Travelers should monitor TSA.gov for any further changes as the government funding standoff continues. (Source: The Associated Press)