Shoes on, pockets empty: What has and hasn't changed at TSA checkpoints
The policy change was announced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference on Tuesday evening, and she stated that the change would take effect immediately. The Transportation Security Administration, which operates departure security checkpoints at U.S. airports, is part of DHS.
Still, Noem said, some passengers could be required to remove their shoes if they're flagged for additional screening, and the TSA continues to require other actions at security checkpoints, often including removing liquids and electronics from carry-on bags.
No more barefoot security checks
The major announcement from Noem's press conference was the change to the shoe removal policy. Most airline passengers in the U.S. have been required to remove their shoes since 2006, when the TSA implemented a rule in response to a passenger who attempted to conceal an explosive in his shoe in 2001.
Since then, trusted traveler programs like TSA PreCheck, along with some other exceptions, have allowed some passengers to keep their shoes on when going through airport security, but Noem said that's now the default position for all travelers.
Still, she warned, passengers need to listen to TSA officers and may still be required to remove their shoes sometimes.
'That doesn't mean there won't be times where someone will have to remove their shoes," for additional screening or other requirements, Noem said at the press conference Tuesday.
Other security precautions are still in place
While the new shoes-on policy is likely to be welcome by many travelers, it doesn't change everything about TSA. Travelers may still be required to remove belts and jewelry from their person and to remove liquids or electronics from their bags, depending on their Trusted Traveler status and the specific screening technology in place at the checkpoint they're passing through.
Passengers will also still be required to empty their pockets before going through screening machines.
Travelers may also experience additional screening if they are flagged at the primary security checkpoint.
'We are very confident that we can continue to provide hospitality to folks … while maintaining the same standard of security for passengers and our homeland," Noem said.
More changes on the way
Noem also teased that more upgrades are likely to come to TSA checkpoints as technology continues to improve.
'We're just getting started, we've implemented several transformational changes," Noem said. "We've gone back and looked at our security processes, looked at the efficacy of everything we do.'
Is TSA PreCheck still worth it?
While one of the biggest benefits of TSA PreCheck was the ability for travelers to leave their shoes on, the new policy doesn't completely wipe out the perks of enrolling in the program. In many airports, TSA PreCheck members have access to shorter security lines. In addition, verified trusted travelers are able to leave compliant liquids and electronics in their bags, which are usually required to be removed in traditional screening lines.
The TSA has an FAQ about the continuing benefits and other information about the program.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
3 hours ago
- CNN
Why sweating might get you pulled over at airport security
In travel news this week: five Americans living in France and loving it, inside the cockpit of a self-landing plane, plus sweaty secrets of the TSA security checkpoints. It's been a sizzling summer so far in the United States and Europe, but there's one lesser-known side effect of all these high temperatures. Heavy perspiration can earn you a pat-down at airport security, particularly if it's pooling in intimate pouches. Ever had the machine go off and the security officer had to wave over you with the magic wand? Moistness might well have been the problem. We asked the TSA to explain why this happens. 'Added moisture from a person's body can alter the density of clothing, so it is possible perspiration may cause our Advanced Imaging Technology machines to alarm,' a spokesperson said. 'If this occurs, the passenger may need to undergo additional screening, such as a pat-down in the area of the body where the AIT alarmed, to ensure there is no threat.' Sweatiness or otherwise, TSA lines will move a little faster from now on, since on Tuesday TSA removed the requirement for all passengers to take off shoes at airport security checkpoints. Our video has the details. The 3.4 ounce liquid rule remains in place, but there is one TSA-approved hack that allows travelers to bring a bottle of water past the scanners. It takes a little planning, but your beverage will undoubtedly be refreshing. Here's how it works. To help you navigate high temperatures this summer — and know when extra hydration is important — CNN has produced a US heat-risk tracker. See how things are looking in your area right now. 'I had the dream of France … But the dream was not as easy as I thought at all,' says Colorado woman Jennie Vercouteren, who moved with her husband, Ward, to the French Pyrenees in 2016. The pair entered the property management business and, while things got off to a shaky start, Vercouteren says, 'We don't regret making the decision. I love how beautiful and calm life here is.' The Zuerchers, a Florida couple in their early 60s who recently moved to Nice, in the south of France, agree. 'Nice is what Florida wishes it was,' is Pennie Zuercher's take on the French city. 'Every country has its issues,' Geoff says, 'so we're not walking around with rose-colored glasses like France is perfect, but it really fits us.' Proving that a fresh start can be made at any age, California woman Carole Carson says that relocating to France at the age of 80 saved her life. She now writes for her hometown paper back in Nevada City, California, and has published four novels. 'Something about being freed from expectations of who I was based on who I'd always been, allowed me to be the writer I'd always wanted to be …' she says. 'I was free to recreate myself once again.' One word of caution, though, given all our talk of high temperatures. Western Europe just had its hottest June on record and air conditioning is still very rare in the region's homes. Here's why. CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean is a certified pilot, but on a recent trip he let go of the controls to allow the plane to land itself. This revolutionary new self-landing system is being installed in some private planes. Think you could land a plane without breaking a sweat? No? Our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have this guide to 16 products that make dealing with perspiration easier. Might be handy for your next airport trip, too. The pope is staying cool on his summer vacation in this hilltop town. Pontiffs have kicked back here for centuries. He saw her in Yellowstone and thought, 'I'm going to marry that girl.' And he did. Japan's panda capital is losing its pandas. What happens next? He fell into a crevasse while exploring a glacier. Then his Chihuahua saved the day.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
TSA ends shoe removal rule nationwide effective immediately
You no longer need to take your shoes off at airport security. Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration, announced in a news conference July 8 that the long-standing policy requiring most passengers to remove their shoes at TSA checkpoints is no longer in effect. 'TSA will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes when they go through our security checkpoint," Noem said. The change had been reported by other news organizations but had not been confirmed by the TSA. Noem said the change takes effect immediately nationwide. TSA officials had said the agency regularly adjusts its screening procedures based on a real-time threat assessment, technologies available at each checkpoint, and other considerations. Noem pointed out that some travelers may still be asked to remove their shoes if they are required to have additional screening. 'Everything the TSA does and requires of travelers has always been necessary, but they have advanced over the years,' Noem said. 'We have made advancements in how we screen individuals.' The shoe removal policy was initially put into place in 2006 in response to an attempt by an airline passenger to conceal a bomb in his shoe in December 2001. Since 2006, most travelers at airport checkpoints in the United States have had to remove their shoes as part of the standard security screening, but there were a number of exceptions. One of the major perks of the TSA's Precheck Trusted Traveler program is keeping your shoes on at checkpoints. Noem said she expects many frequent travelers will still find value in the program because they will continue to benefit from being allowed to leave compliant liquids and electronics in their bags at TSA checkpoints. Some airports with the latest technology have also quietly started allowing travelers to keep their shoes on, even in the standard security screening lane. Still, those decisions were made on a case-by-case basis and were not a blanket policy of the TSA. 'We've gone back and looked at our security processes, looked at the efficacy of everything we do," Noem said, and suggested that overall, the shoe removal policy was no longer an especially effective tool for screening passengers. She also said the agency is confident its existing technology is ready to handle the change at all airports nationwide. 'We've evaluated the equipment that every airport has and are fully confident with the no shoes policy that we still have the security needs in place at every checkpoint," Noem said. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: You'll be able to keep your shoes on at airport security
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Shoes on, pockets empty: What has and hasn't changed at TSA checkpoints
Most airline passengers in the U.S. no longer need to remove their shoes at airport security checkpoints. The policy change was announced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference on Tuesday evening, and she stated that the change would take effect immediately. The Transportation Security Administration, which operates departure security checkpoints at U.S. airports, is part of DHS. Still, Noem said, some passengers could be required to remove their shoes if they're flagged for additional screening, and the TSA continues to require other actions at security checkpoints, often including removing liquids and electronics from carry-on bags. The major announcement from Noem's press conference was the change to the shoe removal policy. Most airline passengers in the U.S. have been required to remove their shoes since 2006, when the TSA implemented a rule in response to a passenger who attempted to conceal an explosive in his shoe in 2001. Since then, trusted traveler programs like TSA PreCheck, along with some other exceptions, have allowed some passengers to keep their shoes on when going through airport security, but Noem said that's now the default position for all travelers. Still, she warned, passengers need to listen to TSA officers and may still be required to remove their shoes sometimes. 'That doesn't mean there won't be times where someone will have to remove their shoes," for additional screening or other requirements, Noem said at the press conference Tuesday. While the new shoes-on policy is likely to be welcome by many travelers, it doesn't change everything about TSA. Travelers may still be required to remove belts and jewelry from their person and to remove liquids or electronics from their bags, depending on their Trusted Traveler status and the specific screening technology in place at the checkpoint they're passing through. Passengers will also still be required to empty their pockets before going through screening machines. Travelers may also experience additional screening if they are flagged at the primary security checkpoint. 'We are very confident that we can continue to provide hospitality to folks … while maintaining the same standard of security for passengers and our homeland," Noem said. Noem also teased that more upgrades are likely to come to TSA checkpoints as technology continues to improve. 'We're just getting started, we've implemented several transformational changes," Noem said. "We've gone back and looked at our security processes, looked at the efficacy of everything we do.' While one of the biggest benefits of TSA PreCheck was the ability for travelers to leave their shoes on, the new policy doesn't completely wipe out the perks of enrolling in the program. In many airports, TSA PreCheck members have access to shorter security lines. In addition, verified trusted travelers are able to leave compliant liquids and electronics in their bags, which are usually required to be removed in traditional screening lines. The TSA has an FAQ about the continuing benefits and other information about the program. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about TSA screening with the new shoes-on policy
