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TSA Ends Shoe-Removal Requirement at U.S. Airports

New high-resolution scanners paired with a multi-layered security approach render the 20-year-old shoe-removal rule obsolete.

Overview

  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced at Ronald Reagan National Airport on July 9 that the TSA has abolished its shoe-removal requirement first imposed in 2006 after Richard Reid’s attempted shoe bombing.
  • The agency cites recent deployment of high-resolution X-ray scanners alongside a unified, multi-agency screening framework as enabling the policy change.
  • TSA officials expect the update to sharply reduce passenger wait times and simplify the screening process across U.S. airports.
  • Travelers lacking Real ID–compliant documents or requiring additional scrutiny will still be asked to remove their shoes during security checks.
  • All other TSA security measures, including identity verification and Secure Flight passenger vetting, remain in place under the layered screening model.