TSA Ends Shoe Removal Rule at U.S. Airports \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that U.S. air travelers no longer need to remove their shoes during security checks. The change takes immediate effect following a successful TSA pilot program. Though exceptions remain, the new policy aims to simplify and speed up airport screenings nationwide.
Quick Looks
- Travelers no longer need to remove shoes at TSA checkpoints.
- Policy effective immediately nationwide after pilot program success.
- Exceptions remain if extra screening is needed.
- Rule dates back to 2006 post–“shoe bomber” attempt.
- PreCheck still offers fastest screening experience.
- TSA exploring other screening updates, including family and military lanes.
- Homeland Security Secretary Noem announced the change Tuesday.
- Trump administration aims to simplify air travel processes.
Deep Look
Travelers passing through airport security in the United States can now keep their shoes on, marking a significant shift in a ritual that has been part of the post-9/11 travel experience for nearly two decades. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has dropped the mandatory shoe removal policy at security checkpoints nationwide, effective immediately.
The change follows the success of a pilot program that demonstrated TSA’s enhanced scanning equipment is capable of effectively screening passengers while allowing them to keep their footwear on. “I think most Americans will be very excited to see they will be able to keep their shoes on, and it will be a much more streamlined process,” Noem said during Tuesday’s press conference.
Still, Noem noted that travelers may be asked to remove their shoes in special circumstances where “additional layers of screening are necessary.” So while the removal is no longer a standard requirement, it hasn’t been eliminated entirely.
The Gate Access travel newsletter first reported TSA’s plans to implement this change, which represents one of the most visible adjustments to airport security since the agency’s inception in 2001. For many travelers, the process of removing shoes—alongside belts, laptops, jackets, and liquids—has come to symbolize the slowdowns and inconveniences of modern air travel.
The shoe removal mandate was introduced in 2006, several years after Richard Reid, the so-called “shoe bomber,” attempted to blow up a transatlantic flight from Paris to Miami using explosives hidden in his shoes in December 2001. Although his attack failed, the incident prompted a massive overhaul of TSA protocols, including mandatory shoe checks for passengers aged 12 to 75.
The TSA PreCheck program, which launched in 2013, had already allowed members to bypass the shoe removal step. For a fee of about $80 for five years, PreCheck members can move through expedited lanes without removing shoes, belts, or light jackets, and without taking laptops or toiletries out of their bags. That program remains the fastest and most efficient option for regular travelers.
However, Noem emphasized that standard screening lanes will still require passengers to place items like electronics, liquids, and jackets on conveyor belts for scanning. Shoes, though, will now typically stay on.
In addition to this major shift, TSA is actively exploring other screening adjustments. Secretary Noem said the agency is testing dedicated lanes for military members and families with young children, and aims to launch more pilot initiatives in the next six to eight months to further reduce congestion and improve efficiency.
In recent years, the federal government has tested technologies like facial recognition systems and Real ID verification protocols to improve passenger identification and streamline operations. These efforts, combined with the latest update, point toward a broader strategy of modernizing security while maintaining safety standards.
The TSA was created shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks, when President George W. Bush signed legislation establishing the agency just two months later. It replaced the private contractors previously responsible for screening passengers, ushering in a new era of federally managed aviation security.
Despite nearly two decades of operation, the TSA has often drawn criticism from the public over long wait times, inconsistent enforcement, and excessive scrutiny. In April, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, under President Donald Trump, posted on social media asking Americans what would make travel easier. The following day, he pointed to TSA as “the #1 travel complaint” and tagged Noem, indicating a need for immediate review.
President Trump had appointed David Pekoske to lead the TSA during his first term, and he was reappointed by President Joe Biden. However, Trump fired Pekoske in January without explanation midway through his second term. The TSA administrator role remains vacant, according to the agency’s official website.
Noem has stepped in to fill the leadership vacuum, actively pushing reforms to streamline security without compromising safety. Her Tuesday announcement signals a symbolic and functional rollback of some of the most visible post-9/11 protocols.
As the travel season ramps up and airlines brace for summer crowds, passengers will likely welcome the news—especially those who’ve spent years begrudgingly unlacing shoes in crowded checkpoints. With more reforms on the way, the TSA experience could be entering a new, traveler-friendly era—faster, smarter, and far less barefoot.
TSA Ends Shoe TSA Ends Shoe
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