If you are planning to fly anytime soon, there is a big change you need to know about. You might no longer need to take your shoes off at airport security. Yes, that long-standing travel routine is finally getting a major update. Here is what has changed and what it means for you the next time you head to the airport.
What is the new TSA rule about wearing shoes?
Starting this week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) no longer requires you to take your shoes off when going through airport security.
- This change was confirmed during a press briefing by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
- “TSA will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes when they go through our security checkpoints,” she said at Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport.
- The policy applies to all passengers, not just those in TSA PreCheck.
Before now, only travelers with TSA PreCheck were allowed to keep their shoes on during screening. Now, this new rule is expected to affect millions of flyers across the country.
Why did TSA make travelers remove shoes in the first place?
The rule to remove shoes goes all the way back to 2006. It was a reaction to a 2001 incident where Richard Reid, known as the “shoe bomber,” tried to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes during a flight from Paris to Miami.
Because of that threat, TSA required passengers to remove their shoes and place them on the X-ray belt for screening. This rule stayed in place for nearly two decades.
Can I now keep my shoes on at all U.S. airports?
Yes—but with a small exception. Most travelers at domestic airports will now be allowed to keep their shoes on at TSA checkpoints.
However:
- TSA officers still have the right to ask you to remove your shoes if they believe extra screening is needed.
- Kristi Noem confirmed this, saying, “Once in a while, someone will have to remove their shoes if they need additional layers of screening.”
So while the general rule has changed, be prepared just in case you are flagged for additional checks.
Which airports have already started this?
Even before the rule was made official, several airports had quietly started testing the new policy. According to sources:
- The first airports to allow travelers to keep their shoes on included:
- Baltimore/Washington International
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
- Fort Lauderdale International
- Philadelphia International
- Piedmont Triad International (NC)
- Portland International
- Some passengers at New York’s LaGuardia Airport also reported being allowed to keep their shoes on
- Baltimore/Washington International
These early rollouts helped TSA see how the policy would work on a larger scale.
Will this help shorten wait times at TSA?
Absolutely. This change is expected to make security lines move faster and create a smoother experience for everyone.
- Caleb Harmon-Marshall, a former TSA agent and founder of Gate Access, called it “one of the biggest changes to TSA screening in over a decade.”
- He believes the new policy will “drop screening time significantly” and “make going through TSA a breeze.”
With fewer people stopping to untie and retie their shoes, security checkpoints should become quicker and less stressful.
Does TSA precheck still matter?
Some people are now wondering if TSA PreCheck is still worth it. After all, the ability to keep your shoes on was one of the big perks.
But officials say PreCheck still offers several important benefits:
- You do not need to remove your belts
- You can leave liquids and electronics in your bags
- You usually get access to shorter lines
According to Secretary Noem, “I believe PreCheck will still be something many travelers will want to utilize.”
She also mentioned that new screening lanes are being tested, which could make the process even faster over the next several months.
Related article:
Would a government shutdown affect the TSA or air travel?
What States allow me to use Apple Wallet Digital Driver’s license and State ID?
