The Transportation Security Administration has finally scrapped one of its most unpopular policies.
After more than two decades of forcing travelers to remove their shoes in airport security lines, the shoe removal requirement was suddenly pulled effective immediately on Monday.
According to an internal memo, the policy shift appears to be tied to recent improvements in screening technology and an updated assessment of current security threats.
Travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck have long enjoyed the privilege of keeping their shoes on but now that same courtesy is being extended to the general public.
To bypass the shoe rule, passengers must hold a federally approved REAL ID or passport to board a domestic flight, with a standard driver’s license no longer cutting it.
Travelers requiring special security procedures may still be asked to remove their footwear.
The original rule was introduced in the wake of the 2001 incident involving Richard Reid, infamously known as the ‘Shoe Bomber,’ who attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his sneakers during a transatlantic flight.
Since then, passengers have been required to walk through security checkpoints barefoot or in socks unless they were PreCheck members, under 12, or over 75 years old.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is finally scrapping one of its most unpopular policies
The policy shift appears to be tied to recent improvements in screening technology and an updated assessment of current security threats (file photo)
The original rule was introduced in the wake of the 2001 incident involving Richard Reid, infamously known as the ‘Shoe Bomber,’ who attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his sneakers during a transatlantic flight
Rumors of the change began gaining traction after a viral TikTok post by former TSA agent @travelwiththeharmony claimed the agency was eliminating the shoe requirement for most travelers.
That clip sparked a wave of responses online – some jubilant, others cautious.
‘I’m sooooooo happy! This just changed my airport fit game,’ one user commented, celebrating the end of what many consider a tedious and unsanitary ritual.
Others expressed concern that scaling back the policy could open the door to new security vulnerabilities.
Some frequent flyers speculated that this move could pave the way for relaxing other restrictions – such as the rule requiring laptops and tablets to be removed from carry-ons.
Given the widespread use of upgraded scanners capable of analyzing electronics inside bags, many believe it’s only a matter of time.
