Passengers flying through U.S. airports will no longer be required to remove their shoes during security screenings, marking the end of a 20-year policy sparked by post-9/11 security concerns.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the policy change Tuesday during a press briefing at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport. The rule, long considered one of the most visible legacies of early 2000s air travel security measures, was first implemented in 2006 in response to the attempted shoe bombing by Al-Qaeda operative Richard Reid.
“In those 20 years since that policy was put in place, our security technology has changed dramatically. It’s evolved. TSA has changed,” Noem said. “We now have a multi-layered, whole-of-government approach to aviation security.”
The shoe removal rule stemmed from Reid’s 2001 attempt to detonate explosives hidden in his footwear on a transatlantic American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami. The plot was foiled by passengers and crew, and Reid was later convicted of terrorism-related offenses. He is currently serving a life sentence at a maximum-security prison in Colorado.
The updated TSA policy reflects advancements in screening technology, including improved body scanners capable of detecting concealed threats without requiring passengers to undress.
The move is expected to streamline airport security lines and improve the passenger experience, especially for families and elderly travelers. Other security protocols, such as removing laptops and liquids, remain in place for now, although further reforms are under consideration.
