The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is quietly relaxing one of its most well-known post-9/11 rules: the requirement to remove shoes during security screenings.
Without any formal public announcement, the TSA has begun allowing travelers to keep their shoes on at a growing number of U.S. airports, marking a notable shift in the agency’s two-decade-old policy.
Passengers at airports including Baltimore/Washington International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Portland International, Philadelphia International, and Piedmont Triad International in North Carolina have reported being screened without removing their shoes. The relaxed policy also appears to be in effect at Los Angeles International (LAX) and New York’s LaGuardia Airport, according to CBS News and other outlets.
The TSA has not officially confirmed the change. Instead, in a vague statement to The New York Times, a spokesperson said the agency and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are “always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture.”
The update was first brought to light by Gate Access, a travel newsletter written by former TSA officer Caleb Harmon-Marshall, who cited an internal TSA memo notifying officers of the revised shoe policy.
The shoe removal rule was introduced after the failed “shoe bomber” terrorist attempt in December 2001, when Richard Reid tried to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami. The TSA began requiring all passengers to remove footwear for screening in 2006.
The move may affect the value proposition of the TSA PreCheck program, which currently costs $78 for a five-year membership and allows travelers to bypass certain screening steps — including removing shoes and belts.
For now, the change appears to be part of a limited trial or phased rollout, with officials encouraging the public to wait for formal updates through official TSA channels.
