TSA ends shoe removal requirement at US airport security

A major change is taking place at airport security checkpoints across the United States: Travelers will no longer need to remove their shoes before passing through TSA screening. The announcement, made Tuesday by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, marks the quiet retirement of one of the most recognizable security rituals introduced after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Effective immediately, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will discontinue its long-standing policy of requiring passengers to take off their shoes at checkpoints. Noem said the decision comes after a successful pilot program showed that modern screening equipment can scan footwear effectively while still being worn, without compromising safety.

“This is a change that reflects both technology advancement and operational trust,” Noem stated during the press conference. “TSA will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes when they go through security checkpoints.”

The shift is expected to make the airport screening process faster and more convenient, especially during peak travel periods when long queues and slowdowns at security are common.

The shoe removal policy was first introduced in the aftermath of an attempted terrorist attack in December 2001, when British national Richard Reid tried—and failed—to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami. In response, the TSA implemented mandatory shoe screening for all air travelers in the US.

Although initially understood as a temporary precaution, the rule remained in place for over two decades. It became one of the most visible symbols of America’s heightened security posture following 9/11, along with limits on liquids, full-body scans, and random bag checks.

The practice was widely viewed by security experts as a form of “security theater”—a measure more effective at reassuring the public than at actually stopping threats. Nevertheless, it endured, in part because newer screening systems weren’t uniformly available across all airports and because the TSA maintained a zero-risk tolerance for certain categories of threats.

According to Homeland Security, the change was made possible by new scanning technology that allows TSA agents to detect potential threats without requiring passengers to remove footwear.

These updated scanners use advanced imaging techniques that can identify anomalies in shoes and other worn items in real time, reducing the need for manual inspection. The pilot program, launched at several major US airports earlier this year, found that the technology provided reliable results without slowing down throughput at checkpoints.

With the equipment now deployed nationwide, the department concluded that mandatory shoe removal is no longer necessary for general passengers.

While the policy change will apply broadly to domestic travelers, some exceptions remain. Passengers may still be asked to remove their shoes if a scanner flags something suspicious, or if they are selected for additional screening. Travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck, who have long been exempt from shoe removal, will continue to benefit from expedited screening.

Security officials emphasized that the new policy does not represent a lowering of standards but rather an adjustment based on improved tools and a more refined understanding of security risk.

“This isn’t about relaxing security,” Noem said. “It’s about making smarter decisions with the technology and intelligence we have today.”

Although the update may seem minor to some, it marks a meaningful shift in how airport security is approached in the US. Over the past 20 years, many travelers came to associate airport screening with a sense of vulnerability and control. Removing one’s shoes—often in front of strangers and amid a rush—was both an inconvenience and a symbolic act.

Removing that step, analysts suggest, could make the process feel more streamlined and respectful, especially for elderly passengers, parents with children, and those with mobility limitations.

It’s worth noting that the US was one of the few countries to mandate shoe removal for all passengers. In many parts of Europe and Asia, shoe checks are typically performed only when scanners detect an issue, or for specific passenger profiles. The decision to finally end this blanket requirement brings US practices more in line with those seen globally.

As airports continue to integrate more automation and machine learning tools into their security systems, experts believe this may be the first of several procedural changes aimed at improving the passenger experience without compromising safety.

Already, facial recognition and biometric ID systems are being tested for boarding and customs clearance. Future changes may target other long-standing policies, such as the 3-1-1 liquids rule, which limits the amount of gels and liquids passengers can carry in hand luggage. For now, though, travelers can look forward to at least one less hassle the next time they pass through a US airport: keeping their shoes on.