Passengers flying through US airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screening, marking the end of a rule that’s been in place for nearly two decades.
The change was officially announced on Tuesday by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a press conference held at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
The controversial policy was first introduced in 2006, five years after Richard Reid, the so-called “Shoe Bomber,” attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his footwear aboard an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami in December 2001.
Reid, later identified as a member of Al-Qaeda, was subdued by fellow passengers before he could ignite the fuse.
“In those 20 years since that policy was put in place, our security technology has changed dramatically. It’s evolved. TSA has changed. We have a multi-layered whole of government approach now to security,” Noem said.
“We are very confident that we can continue to provide hospitality to folks and for American travelers and for those visiting our country, while maintaining the same standard of security for passengers and for our homeland,” she added.
Reid ultimately pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges and is currently serving a life sentence at a maximum-security facility in Colorado.
Following the announcement, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a statement confirming that while the shoe-removal requirement is being scrapped, other layers of security will remain intact.
“Other aspects of TSA’s layered security approach will still apply during the TSA checkpoint process. For example, passengers must still clear identity verification, Secure Flight vetting, and other processes,” the agency said.
The move is seen as part of a broader modernization of airport security procedures that have evolved significantly in the wake of past terror threats.
The September 11, 2001 attacks prompted a wave of new safety protocols, and the 2006 foiled UK-based plot to use liquid explosives on multiple flights led to the current restrictions on liquids and gels in carry-on luggage.
Despite advancements in screening technology, TSA maintains that key safeguards, such as thorough vetting and surveillance, will continue to protect travelers across the country.
