Passengers in the US will no longer need to remove their shoes during airport security checks, ending a policy considered outdated and annoying by many. The development marks a shift in airport security protocols that had been in place for nearly 20 years. The change came after major reform announced by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who confirmed the end of the shoe removal requirement during a press conference.
The rule was introduced in response to a failed bombing attempt by British citizen Richard Reid in December 2001. Reid attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes aboard an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami. Following the incident, security measures became more stringent, leading to the implementation of the TSA's shoes-off rule in 2006.
Advancements in security technology have now enabled the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to maintain safety standards without requiring passengers to remove their shoes. "We are excited with the fact that we have the technology now, that we have the multi layers of screening that we built in over the recent several years, that give us the ability to allow our travelers to keep their shoes on," said Homeland Security Secretary Noem during a press conference.
The change is expected to improve the travel experience by reducing wait times at security checkpoints, especially during peak travel seasons. The new policy is being implemented gradually, with expectations that by September, 90% of commercial airports will operate under the revised procedure.
The TSA had already begun offering exemptions from the shoe removal requirement for pre-screened members of TSA PreCheck, children 12 and younger, and adults 75 years and older. Those enrolled in TSA PreCheck have enjoyed the advantage of skipping the shoe removal step and can also keep on belts and light jackets.
As the policy is phased in, some travelers may still be asked to remove their shoes if additional screening is necessary or in response to heightened security threats identified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Passengers could still be asked to remove their shoes in the event of outages of certain screening equipment or in response to heightened security threats identified by DHS.
The TSA and DHS have been exploring changes to screening procedures to improve air travel efficiency and security, especially with major international events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics approaching. "We will continue to pursue a layered, interagency approach to security," emphasized Noem.
"We anticipate that Americans will be very happy to see they can keep their shoes on, and it will be a much more streamlined process," noted Secretary Noem.
Written with the help of a news-analysis system.