WASHINGTON, DC — Air travelers in the U.S. will no longer be required to remove their shoes at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints under a new policy announced Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the policy change is intended to improve passenger experience and reduce wait times, citing new technology and security methods that maintain threat detection standards.
“Ending the ‘Shoes-Off’ policy is the latest effort DHS is implementing to modernize and enhance traveler experience across our nation’s airports,” Noem said in a statement. “We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints.”
The updated screening process comes amid broader efforts by DHS and TSA to overhaul the travel experience. Officials said identity verification, Secure Flight vetting, and other security measures will remain in place as part of TSA’s layered approach.
The change follows several recent TSA initiatives, including the July 2 launch of the “Serve with Honor, Travel with Ease” program offering expedited screening and TSA PreCheck discounts to military personnel and their families.
In May, the agency began implementation of REAL ID requirements at security checkpoints. Officials reported a 94 percent compliance rate, which they say has contributed to more streamlined screening.
The shoes-off policy was first introduced after a failed 2001 shoe bombing attempt and has remained a routine part of airport security for over two decades.
Officials said the new policy applies to domestic travel and will be rolled out at TSA checkpoints nationwide in the coming weeks.