TSA Ends Shoe Removal Rule at Airport Security—Effective Immediately

It’s the end of an era at airport security. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that travelers will no longer be required to remove their shoes at TSA checkpoints—effective immediately nationwide. The rule, in place since 2006 after a 2001 shoe bomb attempt, has long been a source of traveler frustration. Noem said TSA’s updated technology and real-time threat assessments now make the requirement unnecessary, though some passengers may still be asked to remove shoes during additional screening.