‘Shoes-Off’ Rule
Passengers traveling through airports across the United States will no longer be required to remove their shoes during pre-flight security screenings, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Tuesday. This marks the end of a policy that had been in place for nearly two decades and was widely regarded as inconvenient and humiliating by many travelers.
The “shoes-off” rule was introduced in August 2006 by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) following a thwarted terrorist attempt. Abdel Rahim, better known as Richard Reid or the “Shoe Bomber,” tried to detonate explosives hidden inside his basketball shoes while on a flight from Paris to Miami.
The quick actions of a vigilant flight attendant prevented disaster, and Reid was arrested after the plane was diverted to Boston. He subsequently pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges. In the wake of this incident, TSA implemented stringent screening measures, including the mandatory removal of shoes at security checkpoints, regardless of passenger status.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the change, explaining that passengers will now be able to keep their shoes on during the screening process at TSA checkpoints nationwide.
According to the DHS, this new policy will improve the overall traveler experience by making the screening process more efficient and less intrusive. Noem highlighted that this move is part of broader efforts to modernize airport security while maintaining the highest levels of safety.
“We expect this change will drastically reduce wait times at TSA checkpoints and enhance the hospitality we offer to travelers,” said Secretary Noem. She emphasized that despite the relaxation of the shoe removal requirement, other layers of security will remain firmly in place, including identity verification and Secure Flight vetting. The TSA’s approach relies on cutting-edge technology and multi-layered screening to ensure security is not compromised.
This policy shift comes amid growing passenger numbers; more than one billion travelers passed through US airports in 2023, with numbers continuing to rise in 2024. Secretary Noem noted that the change aligns with the Trump administration’s vision to usher in a new era of improved and more pleasant air travel, often referred to as a “Golden Age” of American aviation.
The ending of the “shoes-off” policy is just one of several initiatives the DHS has implemented under the current administration. For example, the TSA began rolling out the REAL ID program at checkpoints in May, achieving a compliance rate of 94 percent, which has contributed to faster and smoother security checks.
While the shoe removal rule is no longer mandatory, travelers are still encouraged to follow all other TSA guidelines and cooperate fully with security personnel to maintain safety and efficiency in the nation’s airports.
