WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on July 8, marking a major shift in airport security procedures nearly two decades after the rule was introduced.

Effective immediately, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will eliminate the long-standing shoe removal requirement at checkpoints nationwide. Noem said a successful pilot program demonstrated that existing technology can detect threats without requiring passengers to remove their footwear.

"While shoe removal will no longer be standard procedure, travelers may still be asked to remove their shoes if additional screening is deemed necessary," Noem clarified.

The requirement originated in 2006, in response to the 2001 attempted bombing by Richard Reid, the so-called "shoe bomber," who tried to ignite explosives hidden in his shoes on a transatlantic flight. Since then, all passengers aged 12 to 75 have been required to remove their shoes for X-ray screening along with their carry-on items.

The travel newsletter Gate Access first reported the policy shift. Travelers enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program—who pay about $80 for five years—have long been exempt from shoe removal, as well as from removing belts, light jackets, laptops, and toiletries.

The TSA was established in late 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when President George W. Bush signed legislation creating a federal agency to take over airport screening from private contractors.

Over the years, TSA has introduced various technologies and policy changes to improve both security and passenger convenience, including facial recognition pilots and the push for Real ID compliance. However, security checkpoints remain a common frustration for travelers.

President Donald Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently posted on social media seeking public input on how to improve the travel experience. "It's clear that TSA is the #1 travel complaint," he wrote on X. "That falls under the Department of Homeland Security. I'll discuss this with @Sec_Noem."

Earlier this year, Trump fired TSA Administrator David Pekoske, whom President Joe Biden had reappointed after being originally appointed by Trump during his first term. No official reason was given for Pekoske's dismissal, and the administrator role remains vacant, according to the TSA's website.