TSA PreCheck and Global Entry fees are not waived for any person, regardless of position or status
No. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry fees must be paid by everyone who wants the service, including former presidents. These are optional programs run by the Department of Homeland Security that cost money upfront — TSA PreCheck is $78 to $85 for five years, and Global Entry is $100 for five years. There is no exemption category that removes the fee based on who you are.
The confusion sometimes arises because former presidents do receive Secret Service protection, which affects how they move through airports. However, Secret Service protection and TSA PreCheck are separate things. One is security assigned to you; the other is a program you pay to join that speeds up your own screening process.
If a former president chooses to use TSA PreCheck, they pay the same fee as anyone else. If they do not, they go through standard security screening like any other traveler — though their security detail may coordinate with airport security separately.
Key Takeaways
- TSA PreCheck and Global Entry are paid programs with set fees that explore to all users regardless of background or position.
- Former presidents receive Secret Service protection, but that is separate from TSA PreCheck and does not waive the PreCheck fee.
- A former president can choose to pay for TSA PreCheck if they want faster screening, or use standard security screening without it.
- The fee structure and may be able to access rules for these programs are the same for every applicant.
How TSA PreCheck and Global Entry work
TSA PreCheck is a voluntary program that lets you go through a faster security line at U.S. airports. You keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on, leave your laptop and liquids in your bag, and move through screening more quickly. To join, you pay the fee, submit an process with your personal information, and attend an in-person appointment at an enrollment center where they take your fingerprints and verify your identity.
Global Entry is a separate program that speeds up customs and immigration screening when you return to the United States from abroad. It also includes TSA PreCheck as a benefit. Both programs require you to pay upfront and renew every five years.
Neither program is based on who you are or what you do for a living. The rules are the same whether you are a business owner, a government employee, a former elected official, or anyone else. You pay the fee, you meet the requirements, and you get access.
What Secret Service protection actually covers
Former U.S. presidents receive lifetime Secret Service protection under federal law. This means agents travel with them and coordinate security measures. However, this protection does not include paying for optional airport programs or exempting them from standard fees.
Secret Service agents may work with airport security to arrange logistics — for example, coordinating a separate screening area or timing — but that coordination does not replace TSA PreCheck. If a former president wants the faster screening line that TSA PreCheck provides, they still need to pay for it and go through the enrollment process.
The difference between security protection and screening programs
It is common to confuse these two things because they both involve airports and security. Secret Service protection is a security detail assigned to a person. TSA PreCheck is a program you join that changes how you personally move through the airport.
A person with Secret Service protection might have agents sweep an area before they arrive, coordinate with airport police, or arrange a private entrance. But those arrangements do not give them access to the TSA PreCheck line unless they have paid for and enrolled in TSA PreCheck itself.
Think of it this way: Secret Service protects you from external threats. TSA PreCheck is a convenience you purchase for yourself. One does not replace the other.
Can you get TSA PreCheck for free through any program
Some people do not pay the full TSA PreCheck fee because their employer covers it, or because they hold certain government positions that include it as a benefit. For example, some federal employees, military members, and law enforcement officers may have TSA PreCheck included in their benefits package.
However, there is no blanket exemption for former presidents or their families. If a former president's security detail or office chooses to pay the fee on their behalf, that is a choice they make — but the fee itself still exists and must be paid by someone.
What happens if you do not have TSA PreCheck
If you do not have TSA PreCheck, you go through standard security screening at the airport. This takes longer — you remove your shoes, belt, and jacket, take out your laptop and liquids, and go through a regular metal detector or body scanner. The line moves more slowly, especially during busy travel times.
For a former president with Secret Service protection, standard screening might look different in practice because agents coordinate with airport security. But the person still goes through a screening process; they do not skip it entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do former presidents have to go through airport security at all?
Yes. Every person, including former presidents, must go through some form of airport security screening. Secret Service protection does not exempt you from TSA screening — it is a separate security layer that works alongside it. A former president might have agents coordinate with airport security, but they still go through a screening process.
Can a former president use TSA PreCheck without paying?
No. TSA PreCheck has a set fee that everyone pays. There is no exemption category based on position, background, or status. If a former president wants to use TSA PreCheck, they pay the same fee as anyone else.
Does Secret Service protection include TSA PreCheck?
No. Secret Service protection and TSA PreCheck are separate services. Secret Service is a security detail assigned to protect a person. TSA PreCheck is an optional program you pay to join that speeds up your own airport screening. One does not include the other.
What if someone's employer pays for their TSA PreCheck?
Some employers, government agencies, and military branches cover TSA PreCheck fees for their employees or members. However, the fee still exists — the employer is straightforward paying it on the person's behalf. There is no program that makes TSA PreCheck free for everyone in a particular role.