Latest news with #CalebHarmon-Marshall
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Removing shoes at US airports may soon be a thing of past
'A long-overdue policy' (AP photo) Travellers at some airports, including LaGuardia in New York City, may no longer need to undergo one of the most loathed requirements of security screening. For the first time in nearly 20 years, the transportation security administration (TSA) is letting people keep their shoes on. In recent days, TSA began dropping its requirement for travellers to remove shoes, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. The agency has not officially announced this change and did not confirm the new policy, which appears to be taking effect at airports across the country. "TSA and DHS are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance passenger experience and our strong security posture," a TSA spokesperson said. "Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels." The change was first reported by Gate Access, a travel newsletter written by Caleb Harmon-Marshall, who says he is a former TSA officer. He added he had seen a soft launch of the new policy at an airport as well as an internal memo briefing officers about it. The new policy is good for passengers and is long overdue, Harmon-Marshall said, in an emailed statement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Empieza a ganar un segundo sueldo con Mercado Libre CFD Actualidad-CL Más información Undo He added that officers would now be able to screen travellers more swiftly. TSA has been requiring passengers to remove their shoes since 2006, nearly five years after a terrorist tried to detonate an explosive in his shoe while aboard an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami. Travellers pay for the privilege for keeping their shoes on, a hallmark of TSA's PreCheck programme, which costs roughly $80 for five years and grants expedited screening. Harmon-Marshall said he believed a "huge shift" was underway with PreCheck programme.
CNBC
a day ago
- CNBC
TSA plans to let travelers keep their shoes on at airport security checkpoints
The Transportation Security Administration plans to let many travelers leave their shoes on at U.S. airport checkpoints, ending a roughly 20-year-old rule, according to people familiar with the matter. The TSA briefed industry members about the change on Tuesday, the people said. Most passengers have been required to remove their shoes at U.S. airport security checkpoints since 2006. The TSA at the time said it put the requirement for shoe removal or explosives screening because of "intelligence pointing to a continuing threat." That came after Richard Reid, who became known as the "shoe bomber," tried and failed to ignite explosive material in his shoe on a Paris to Miami flight in December 2001. Travelers enrolled in the TSA's PreCheck program can already leave their shoes on and keep their laptops and similar electronics in their bags when going through airport checkpoints. The agency declined to comment on the change and said that it and the Department of Homeland Security "are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture. Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels." The news was reported earlier by Caleb Harmon-Marshall, a former TSA officer who writes on Gate Access newsletter.
The Hill
a day ago
- The Hill
TSA letting travelers keep their shoes on during screening
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will soon allow travelers to keep their shoes on while during the screening process, dropping a rule after nearly 20 years of enforcement, multiple outlets reported on Monday. The change has not been announced publicly and the agency, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has not confirmed the shift. 'TSA and DHS are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture,' a TSA spokesperson said in an emailed statement to The Hill's sister network NewsNation. 'Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to a CBS News report detailing the change by writing, 'Big news from @DHSgov!' Tuesday morning on social media platform X, including a plane and shoe emoji. The move was first reported Friday by Gate Access, a travel newsletter authored by Caleb Harmon-Marshall. TSA has required travelers to take off their shoes when going through screening since 2006, based on 'intelligence pointing to a continuing threat.' The policy came into effect after Richard Reid attempted in December 2001, months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, to detonate bombs hidden in his shoes on an American Airlines flight scheduled from Paris to Miami. He struggled to light the fuse, with crew members and passengers restraining him, according to the FBI. The plane was diverted to Boston and law enforcement took the man into custody. Reid pleaded guilty to eight terrorism-related counts in October 2002 and was sentenced to life in prison.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
TSA ends shoe removal rule at select US airports: What travelers should know
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is surreptitiously overturning its shoe removal policy in some of the US airports, allowing passengers to walk with their shoes during the security procedure. The TSA is quietly allowing travelers to keep their shoes on during security checks at select airports, a significant shift from the long-standing shoe removal policy.(Copilot) Although the agency has not yet officially announced the change, numerous reports suggest that now passengers in some of the major airports can keep their shoes on when undergoing a routine screening procedure. Travellers passing through Baltimore/Washington International, Fort Lauderdale International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Portland International, Philadelphia International, and Piedmont Triad International in North Carolina were among the first to notice the change. CBS News reported the relaxed rule is also reportedly in place at Los Angeles International (LAX) and New York's LaGuardia Airport, where passengers were observed walking through security without removing their footwear. The New York Times reported that the company offered them a vague statement. '[We] are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture,' a TSA spokesperson said. 'T.S.A. and D.H.S. are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture,' another spokesperson told The Times. 'Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels.' Notably, the policy update was first reported by Gate Access, a travel industry newsletter authored by former TSA officer Caleb Harmon-Marshall. He cited an internal TSA memo that briefed officers on the updated shoe policy. The new regulation of removing shoes was enforced following an unsuccessful attempt at a terrorist attack in December 2001, during which a man was attempting to blow up explosives in his shoes during a flight from Paris to Miami. In 2006, the TSA required everyone to remove their shoes. The change may have implications for the TSA's PreCheck program, which costs about $80 for five years and allows travelers to skip certain security procedures like taking off shoes and belts.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Map Shows States With Airports No Longer Requiring People to Remove Shoes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Passengers flying in the United States at certain airports are no longer required to take off their shoes when going through security lines, according to news outlets including CBS News and The New York Times on Monday. Newsweek reached out to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) via email for comment. Why It Matters The practice of requiring airline passengers to remove their shoes at checkpoints has frequently drawn complaints due to inconvenience, slower processing lines and perceived burdens on travelers. Passengers have widely reported frustration with the policy, citing discomfort and delays caused by the procedure during security checks. The policy change could speed up security lines and make air travel more convenient and less burdensome for millions of U.S. travelers each year. The TSA introduced the shoe removal rule in 2006, following the 2001 attempted bombing by Richard Reid, who tried to ignite explosives hidden in his shoes during a trans-Atlantic American Airlines flight, the Times reports. The incident led to the agency's heightened focus on screening footwear for concealed threats, a measure that quickly became a staple of post-9/11 airport security procedures across the U.S. Flyers with TSA PreCheck or a "known traveler number" do not have to take their shoes off, allowing them to bypass the security protocol at all domestic airports. Young travelers can be seen removing their shoes for security screening at Los Angeles International Airport on August 29, 2003. (Photo by) Young travelers can be seen removing their shoes for security screening at Los Angeles International Airport on August 29, 2003. (Photo by) What To Know According to CBS News, citing two sources familiar with the change, the new protocol is taking place in phases. The airports where the shoe rule will first be lifted are as follows: Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI), Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL), Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Portland International Airport (PDX), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI). CBS also notes that correspondents traveling through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and New York City's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) did not have to take their shoes off Monday night. The Times reports the change was first flagged in Gate Access, by Caleb Harmon-Marshall. Harmon-Marshall said in his newsletter, in part: "This would be one of the biggest changes to TSA screening in over a decade and could dramatically reshape the airport experience as we know it. While the agency hasn't confirmed anything publicly yet, internal sources say updated guidance has already started circulating to TSA officers nationwide. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are reportedly being revised, with some officers being trained on when shoes can still trigger secondary screening." He added that he thinks the timing is due to "politics." Harmon-Marshall says he is a former federal security officer in his bio. REAL ID is also officially in effect for travelers in the United States. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that over 80 percent of travelers were compliant as of May, during a congressional hearing. What People Are Saying A TSA spokesman to the Times: "T.S.A. and D.H.S. are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture." The spokesman added, "Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels." Charlie Kirk, CEO and founder of conservative Turning Point USA on X, formerly Twitter, Monday: "No more taking off shoes at the airport. Now let's privatize/abolish the TSA. Well done @Sec_Noem and President Trump!" What Happens Next The TSA has not specified a nationwide implementation date or confirmed when further guidance will be issued. Travelers are encouraged to monitor official TSA announcements before future flights to confirm the latest screening procedures at their departure airport.
