Trump’s TSA Ends Annoying Shoes-Off Rule at Airport Checkpoints [WATCH]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are set to announce the end of the long-standing “shoes-off” airport screening policy at a press conference Tuesday evening at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The announcement is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, according to DHS officials familiar with the matter.

The change is expected to apply broadly to travelers passing through standard TSA security lanes at airports nationwide.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt referenced the upcoming announcement in a post on X, calling it “big news from @DHSgov.”

Big news from @DHSgov! ✈️👟 https://t.co/GJjd2UQMki

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) July 8, 2025

The removal of shoes at airport security checkpoints has been a standard procedure since 2006.

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The policy was originally enacted in response to the failed 2001 terrorist attack involving Richard Reid, a British national with ties to al-Qaeda. Reid attempted to detonate explosives concealed in his shoes during an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami in December 2001.

He was overpowered by passengers and crew before the device could be detonated.

In a statement issued ahead of the formal announcement, a TSA spokesperson said, “TSA and DHS are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture. Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels.”

Although select travelers enrolled in programs such as TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, or processed through identity verification partners like IDEMIA and Telos have been exempt from shoe removal in recent years, the new update would mark the first time the protocol is lifted for the general traveling public using standard security lanes.

🚨 @Sec_Noem: “TSA will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes when they go through our security checkpoints.” pic.twitter.com/mfs9wxizHO

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 8, 2025

This policy shift is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration’s TSA to reduce travel-related burdens and streamline airport security procedures.

Last week, TSA began deploying a new expedited screening lane designed specifically for active-duty service members, part of a growing list of reforms aimed at improving efficiency while maintaining security standards.

The rollback of the shoes-off requirement comes as summer air travel volumes reach near-record levels.

TSA has recently recorded some of the highest passenger counts since pre-pandemic levels, prompting the agency to explore new measures to speed processing without compromising safety.

The change is expected to affect airports across the country and could represent one of the most significant adjustments to TSA procedures since the introduction of full-body scanners and liquid restrictions in the years following the September 11, 2001, attacks.

TSA’s current leadership has not publicly confirmed how the update will be enforced across varying airport facilities, but officials have indicated that additional technology enhancements and risk-based screening methods have enabled the agency to consider eliminating outdated procedures without reducing its ability to detect threats.

Additional information will be released following the press conference, where DHS and TSA representatives are expected to provide further clarification on policy changes, implementation timelines, and traveler guidelines.

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