Passengers in airports within the United States will no longer be required to remove their footwear during security screenings — a mandate that has been revoked nearly twenty years after its implementation.
According to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, at her statement, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is abolishing this security requirement "with immediate effect".
"TSA will no longer demand passengers to remove their footwear while passing through security checkpoints. We anticipate this change will significantly reduce the waiting times at checkpoints and make the overall journey more enjoyable and efficient, while still maintaining our safety standards and protecting the public," the announcement stated.
"Our approach is based on multilayered security. Passengers will still undergo several levels of screening. They will also go through the identity verification stage," Noem explained.
As reported by CNN, the abolition of this rule was considered during Joe Biden's administration. However, Noem specifically highlighted that it was an initiative proposed by President Donald Trump.
Noem mentioned that, if feasible for safe implementation, TSA is considering revising other security regulations (such as belts, liquids, etc.) as well.
The requirement to remove footwear at airports was initiated due to the so-called "shoe bomber", Richard Reid, who attempted to ignite explosives hidden in his shoes on a Paris-Miami flight in December 2001. The TSA's demand for passengers to remove their shoes was implemented in August 2006, based on intelligence reports about an "ongoing threat", aiming to detect explosive materials through scanning of the footwear and ensuring aircraft safety.
"Since that policy was introduced twenty years ago, our security technology has significantly evolved. TSA has changed. New scanners were deployed and more officers were stationed in certain areas," said the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.
Furthermore, Noem emphasized that compliance with the "REAL ID" also helps to enhance security as it ensures the identification of those passing through checks.
Up to now, at U.S. airports, trusted passengers participating in the TSA PreCheck program, children up to 12 years old, and seniors over the age of 75 could pass without removing their shoes. However, they firstly had to undergo a background check and pay an application fee. Noem believes that this program will still retain its importance because it is associated with other conveniences.
Even the White House left a post saying "free your feet", with a joke in its X social media post stating, "Feet covered, air quality restored,".
The requirement to remove footwear during entry checks at airports is present in many countries that opt for conservative security solutions. This includes Uzbekistan's airports, where passengers are required to remove their footwear for scanning prior to boarding international flights.
