US airports end shoe removal policy at security screening
For nearly two decades, the TSA had mandated that most US travelers remove their shoes during the security check. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt termed the decision as 'big news' by the Department of Homeland Security that runs the TSA.
The new policy began its nationwide implementation on Tuesday and some of the airports which have already removed the requirement to remove shoes include international airports in Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale and Portland, reported CBS News.
Ending the 'Shoes-Off' policy is the latest effort DHS is implementing to modernize and enhance traveler experience across our nation's airports. We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient…
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) July 8, 2025
It was in August 2006 when TSA laid down its policy which began making passengers remove their shoes to screen for explosives. The decision came nearly five years after the deadly 9/11 attacks and when a British man Richard Reid, who is known as 'shoe bomber', hid a bomb in one of his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami.
According to data from the US Department of Transportation, more than 1 billion passengers flew through US airports in more than 10 million aircrafts in 2023 financial year.
Secretary Noem, in a post on X, stated 'We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience.'
Detailing about the security measure, Noem added 'Thanks to our cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach, we are confident we can implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards.'
Some of the airports which have dropped the requirement to remove shoes include Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport and Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina, a BBC report stated.
The report further states that some other airports have also dropped the security measure of removing the shoes, namely Los Angeles International Airport and New York City's LaGuardia Airport.
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