UPDATE: This policy is now official, with a statement from TSA explaining why it has lifted the shoe removal requirement:

“The new policy will increase hospitality for travelers and streamline the TSA security checkpoint process, leading to lower wait times.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem added:

“Ending the ‘Shoes-Off’ policy is the latest effort DHS is implementing to modernize and enhance traveler experience across our nation’s airports. We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience. As always, security remains our top priority. Thanks to our cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach, we are confident we can implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards. This initiative is just one of many the Trump administration is pursuing to usher in the President’s vision for a new Golden Age of American travel.”

Bravo, TSA. Now how about that liquid ban?

My original story is below.

In what may be the most welcome change to airport security since the introduction of PreCheck, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has quietly ended the requirement for travelers to remove their shoes at airport checkpoints.

TSA Abolishes Shoe Removal Requirement As Summer Travel Heats Up

I first got wind of this news when my brother flew home from Newark to Los Angeles last Thursday. Here was the text he sent me:

“Odd. TSA did not require anyone to remove shoes. They were barking at people who were removing shoes to leave them on, as if this was obvious after 20 years of forcing everyone to keep them on. Typical TSA.”

24 years to be precise…

(Don’t ask me why he doesn’t have PreCheck…)

I didn’t think too much about it, figuring it may be a test, but it appears far more than a test, with a broader policy now in effect that excludes passengers traveling with REAL ID from the requirement of removing shoes.

At least this is the claim of one YouTuber who claims to be a former TSA agent with several reliable sources who provided him this information:

While we are still waiting for official confirmation from TSA, I’m confident that this is the case based on my brother’s experience (meaning it went into effect before today) and those of several others who have shared about their own TSA checkpoint experiences over the last few days.

According to internal memos, the updated rule is a result of both technological advancements and a comprehensive reassessment of threat-level risks. Modern scanning equipment is now capable of detecting potential hazards without requiring passengers to remove their shoes, a perk previously reserved for TSA PreCheck lanes.

The news comes as one US Senator, Mike Lee (R-UT) continues his crusade to abolish the TSA:

Without compromising security, hopefully, this move will reduce wait times and improve the overall traveler experience.

CONCLUSION

TSA’s decision to stop requiring shoe removal is a long-overdue and sensible move. The rule was never implemented internationally, and the US has looked out of step for years. More importantly, the rule was never implemented intentionally, with the policy driven by fear rather than any rational response commensurate with the threat. This change will speed up screening and reduce traveler frustration with zero cost to security.

Let’s hope this is the beginning of a larger trend. Next up: removing the liquid rule (sadly, the TSA has said that rule will remain in effect until 2040).

image: TSA