Finally! Say Goodbye to Shoe Removal at Airport Security!

Travelers racing to catch a flight at US airports no longer are required to remove their shoes during security screenings, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday.

Noem announced that the end of this nearly two-decade-old ritual is effective immediately nationwide. She explained that a pilot program demonstrated the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has the necessary equipment to maintain airport and aircraft safety while allowing passengers to keep their shoes on.

“I think most Americans will be thrilled to know they can keep their shoes on, making the security process much smoother,” Noem stated.

While shoe removal is no longer standard procedure at airport checkpoints, Noem added that some travelers might still be asked to take off their footwear “if additional screening is deemed necessary.”

The travel newsletter Gate Access was the first to report that the TSA planned to implement this security screening change soon.

Shoe removal during screenings became mandatory in 2006, following “shoe bomber” Richard Reid’s failed attempt to blow up a Paris-to-Miami flight in late 2001.

Previously, all passengers between 12 and 75 years old had to remove their shoes, which were then scanned along with carry-on bags and other items like jackets.

Travelers could bypass this requirement if they enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program, costing about $80 for five years. This program allows passengers to breeze through security without removing shoes, belts, or light jackets, and without taking out laptops and toiletries.

Noem explained that PreCheck will remain the more convenient option for now, as regular screening still requires passengers to place items other than shoes on the conveyor belt for scanning.

The TSA plans to review other rules and procedures to streamline airport screenings, Noem said. The agency is currently testing separate lanes for military personnel and families with young children, with more changes expected to be piloted in the next six to eight months.

In recent years, federal authorities have explored facial recognition technology and implemented Real ID requirements to verify passenger identities.

The Transportation Security Administration was created in 2001 when President George W. Bush signed legislation just two months after the 9/11 attacks. TSA replaced private security workers with federal agents to handle airport security.

While frequent flyers are familiar with airport security procedures, long lines during peak times and bags flagged for items like forgotten water bottles can still make the process stressful.

In April, President Donald Trump’s transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, asked the public on social media how to improve travel. The next day, Duffy tweeted, “It’s clear that TSA is the #1 travel complaint. That falls under the Department of Homeland Security. I’ll discuss this with @Sec_Noem.” Trump fired TSA Administrator David Pekoske in January, midway through his second five-year term. Pekoske, initially appointed by Trump and reappointed by President Joe Biden, left without any official explanation.

The TSA website currently lists the administrator position as vacant. (AP)