TSA Ends Shoes-Off Rule at Selected Airports

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TSA Ends Shoes-Off Rule at Selected Airports
photo via @aplasticplant / Instagram

More U.S. travelers can now keep their shoes on at airport security. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has started dropping its long-standing shoe-removal policy, aiming to speed up lines and use updated screening tools.

So far, the change has rolled out at airports including Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG), Portland (PDX), Philadelphia (PHL), and Piedmont Triad (PTI). Meanwhile, passengers at Los Angeles (LAX) and LaGuardia (LGA) also reported not needing to remove their shoes, showing how quickly the shift is expanding.

The TSA first enforced the shoes-off rule in 2006. That decision followed a failed bombing attempt in 2001, when a man tried to hide explosives in his shoes. Today, modern scanners can check footwear while passengers keep it on, unless an alarm signals something unusual.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said, “We’re always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture.” The TSA says these updates should reduce delays and improve how people move through security.

  • TSA is rolling out the change at major U.S. airports
  • The rule started after the 2001 shoe bombing attempt
  • New scanners allow screening without removing shoes
  • TSA will hold a press event at Reagan National Airport at 5 pm ET

White House officials have already called the update “big news,” and more airports are expected to join the program soon. Still, travelers should prepare to follow the old rules at smaller locations or where tech upgrades haven’t arrived yet.

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