Amid a hectic travel season, some U.S. airports are reportedly abandoning their no-shoe policy at TSA security screening checkpoints, which was introduced in 2006.
After rumors began circulating on social media last week, a source has confirmed to The New York Times that passengers at airports, including New York’s LaGuardia Airport, will no longer need to take off their shoes as the Transportation Security Administration will now allow people to keep their shoes on nearly 20 years after the rule was put in place. The new policy is expected to take effect this week.
While several news outlets have confirmed the news, TSA and the White House have yet to make a formal announcement. WWD sister publication FN reached out to TSA for clarification about the possible change in their shoe policy on Monday.
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“TSA and DHS are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture,” a TSA spokesperson said in a statement to FN. “Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels.”
Reports began circulating last week after people took to TikTok and Reddit with claims saying passengers were no longer required to take off their shoes. On Friday, a travel content creator named Harmony, who says he is a former TSA officer, said he had inside knowledge from “several credible sources” about TSA doing away with the no-shoes rule.
“The White House is about to announce a huge rule change at TSA,” he said in the viral clip. “I received information from several credible sources telling me that TSA is about to announce the end of taking off your shoes at security checkpoints.”
He continued to say that the new policy will take effect starting this week, and that all passengers, regardless of their TSA PreCheck status, will no longer be required to remove their shoes during security screenings. While the White House and TSA had yet to address the reports at the time, he added, “I have reason to believe that this is going to happen.”
Now that new rules and perks may apply to everyone in the standard lane, some travelers are wondering what the value of their TSA PreCheck would be, with some people commenting on Harmony’s post that they will seek a refund. The TSA PreCheck is a program that allows low-risk travelers to enjoy a secure and efficient security screening experience in dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes, which are often shorter and quicker to navigate than the standard lines.
TSA PreCheck passengers pay a fee that covers them for five years, allowing them to keep their shoes, belts, and light jackets on. They are also not required to remove laptops or 3-1-1 liquids from their carry-on bags. As reports began to announce the policy, the TSA account on X made no statements regarding the news, but instead shared a meme promoting PreCheck.
The change was also reported by Caleb Harmon-Marshall’s travel newsletter titled “Gate Access.” Marshall, who claims to be a former TSA officer, stated that an internal memo had been distributed to officers announcing the new policy. Marshall shared his reaction to the report with The New York Times via email, saying that this will expedite the process, adding that passengers “should feel relieved knowing that technology has advanced so significantly that TSA officers can detect threats while wearing shoes.”
TSA began requiring passengers to remove their shoes in 2006, five years after a terrorist tried to detonate an explosive hidden inside his shoe while on an American Airlines flight traveling from Paris to Miami.
The news also comes after the White House announced in May that it was looking to cut funding for the Transportation Security Administration by $247 million, while investing more funds in rail and air safety.
