In a major update to post-9/11 airport security protocol, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that the long-standing requirement to remove shoes at U.S. security checkpoints has been lifted for most passengers.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted that advances in full-body CT scanners and enhanced layered security measures now allow travelers to keep their shoes on during screening—streamlining the process and reducing wait times. While travelers may still be asked to remove footwear during secondary screenings, the change marks a significant shift toward more traveler-friendly procedures.
The decision, already piloted at select airports like Fort Lauderdale and Miami, extends the convenience previously afforded only to TSA PreCheck members and private-jet passengers.
With more than 1,000 CT scanners now operational nationwide, officials suggest that other security restrictions—such as belt removal and liquid limits—are under review. Experts caution, however, that any policy changes must account for inconsistent technology rollout across airports. Nevertheless, the move has been widely praised as a practical, data-driven modernization of airport security that balances efficiency with safety.
Source: CNN
https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/08/travel/tsa-shoes-security-checkpoints
