The Trump administration has officially ended the long-standing requirement for air travelers to remove their shoes during TSA security screenings. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the change Tuesday during a press conference at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
“In those 20 years since that policy was put in place, our security technology has changed dramatically,” Noem said, citing major advances in screening tools and a more robust, multi-layered approach to airport security.
The rule change is aimed at easing passenger experience, reducing wait times, and improving traveler satisfaction, according to a TSA press release. While shoe removal will no longer be required for most passengers, some travelers may still undergo shoe screening under certain conditions.
The policy, introduced in 2001 after a failed shoe bomb attempt, had become a symbol of post-9/11 air travel security. Its removal reflects broader efforts by the Trump administration to modernize and streamline federal processes.