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France 24
43 minutes ago
- France 24
US airports end shoe removal requirement for security screening
The Transportation Security Administration will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes during security checks at US airports, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Tuesday, ending an unpopular policy. TSA had been requiring most US air travelers to remove their shoes during screening for nearly two decades. The new policy began nationwide implementation on Tuesday. "We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience," Noem said in a statement. TSA began making passengers remove their shoes to screen for explosives in August 2006. The policy was implemented nearly five years after the 9/11 attacks and when Richard Reid, who is known as the "shoe bomber," used matches in an attempt to ignite explosive devices hidden in his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami. More than 1 billion passengers flew through US airports in fiscal 2023 on over 10 million flights, according to the US Department of Transportation. "We are very confident that we can continue to provide hospitality to folks and for American travelers and for those visiting our country, while maintaining the same standard of security for passengers and for our homeland," Noem said at a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. Noem highlighted advancements in security technology and processes as reasons for the removal of the policy but noted that some individuals may be asked to remove their shoes "if we think there's additional layers of screening that is necessary." In 2013, TSA launched the PreCheck Trusted Traveler program, whose members are not required to remove their shoes. Children under 12 and adults 75 years or older are exempt from removing their shoes. Noem did not think the new policy would degrade the PreCheck program. "I believe PreCheck will still be something that many travelers will want to utilise, because when they have TSA PreCheck, they won't have to take off their belt or their coat or remove things out of their bag such as laptops or compliant liquids," Noem said. In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said other aspects of TSA's security process would remain unchanged for most other travelers. "For example, passengers (must) still clear identity verification, Secure Flight vetting, and other processes," the department said.
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Supreme Court ruling opens door for Trump mass firings of government employees
The US Supreme Court cleared the way on Tuesday for President Donald Trump to begin carrying out mass firings of federal workers. The court, in an unsigned order, lifted a block imposed by a lower court on Trump's plans to potentially lay off tens of thousands of government employees. US District Court Judge Susan Illston had paused the planned sweeping layoffs in May on the grounds that the moves required a green light from Congress. A coalition of labor unions, non-profit groups and others had sued the Trump administration arguing that it had exceeded its authority by ordering mass firings and agency reforms without congressional approval. After returning to the White House in January, Trump directed federal agencies to prepare sweeping workforce reduction plans as part of wider efforts by the then- Elon Musk -headed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to downsize the government. In a February 11 executive order, the Republican president called for a "critical transformation of the Federal bureaucracy" and directed agencies to cull workers not designated essential. The Supreme Court said "the Government is likely to succeed on its argument that the Executive Order and Memorandum are lawful." But the justices said they were not taking a position at this point on the legality of specific agency reorganization plans, which will continue to be the subject of legal battles. "The plans themselves are not before this Court, at this stage, and we thus have no occasion to consider whether they can and will be carried out consistent with the constraints of law," said Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of three liberals on the top court. "I join the Court's stay because it leaves the District Court free to consider those questions," Sotomayor said. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, an appointee of former Democratic president Joe Biden, lodged the sole dissent among the nine justices on the court. "For some reason, this Court sees fit to step in now and release the President's wrecking ball at the outset of this litigation," Jackson said. "Under our Constitution, Congress has the power to establish administrative agencies and detail their functions. "Thus, over the past century, Presidents who have attempted to reorganize the Federal Government have first obtained authorization from Congress to do so. "While Presidents possess some discretion to reduce federal employment, they may not fundamentally restructure the Federal Government all on their own." Trump has moved to fire tens of thousands of government employees and slash programs -- targeting diversity initiatives and eliminating the US humanitarian aid agency USAID and various other departments.
France 24
3 hours ago
- France 24
Rubio departs for whirlwind Asia trip overshadowed by tariffs
The brief trip to Kuala Lumpur is intended to allow Rubio, who is also President Donald Trump's national security advisor, to focus on US policy in Asia after months of Washington concentrating on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. "In his first trip to Asia as Secretary of State, Secretary Rubio is focused on reaffirming the United States' commitment to advancing a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region," spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement, using Washington's traditional wording on curbing China's growing influence in the region. A senior State Department official told reporters that prioritizing and reaffirming Washington's commitment to East Asia and Southeast Asia "is in America's interest." "I think there's been a lot of outreach, a lot of engagements, and I wouldn't judge the level of interest and priority based solely on how many physical trips there have been," the official said on condition of anonymity. As with any trip to Asia by a US official, China will be the elephant in the room amid concerns over its expansionist behavior in the South China Sea, which the United States deems to be provocative. 'Rebalance' trade relationships But this visit also comes as many countries around the world fear the imposition of punitive tariffs. Sweeping levies Trump announced in April were mostly suspended, as Washington engages in negotiations with friends and foes alike. On Monday, Trump said he would impose 25 percent tariffs on key US allies Japan and South Korea and a handful of others, including Southeast Asian nations Malaysia (25 percent) and Laos (40 percent), as of August 1. Export-dependent Vietnam, which like Malaysia and Laos is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is one of the few countries to already reach a tentative agreement with Washington that spares it the high level of levies that Trump had threatened. At a summit in late May, Southeast Asian leaders expressed their deep concern at Trump's protectionist offensive. The senior US official said the issue was expected to be raised, and that Rubio would likely tell ASEAN that the United States wants to "rebalance" its trade relationships. Rubio's visit to Kuala Lumpur Thursday and Friday coincides with that of his Russian and Chinese counterparts, Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi. While there, Rubio is scheduled to attend a meeting with his counterparts from ASEAN and with a gathering of both ASEAN and East Asian foreign ministers. Last week, Rubio welcomed foreign ministers from Australia, India and Japan to Washington, where they pledged to work together to ensure a stable supply of critical minerals. China's domination of such resources -- essential to new technologies -- is causing increasing concern in western Europe and the United States.
