The Transportation Security Administration is departing from a security protocol that was established over two decades ago.
When passing through TSA screenings, passengers will no longer need to take off their shoes and go barefoot. In a statement released on X Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the move.
Technological advancements allowed for more thorough checks, including for people wearing shoes, which facilitated the modification intended to expedite airport processing.
Updated intelligence, risk assessments, and a change in recognized threat vectors serve as the foundation for these improvements. According to a statement from TSA, the move shows faith in the organization’s capacity to identify threats through a variety of visible and covert security levels.
All U.S. airports and travelers with Real-ID compliant documentation are subject to the new policy, which formally went into effect on July 7.The government cautioned that in certain circumstances where more checks are necessary, TSA officials may still ask to have footwear taken off.
Since 2006, when British man Richard Reid tried to detonate explosives concealed in his shoes to blow up an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami, the shoe removal regulation has been in effect. Only a few months after the 9/11 attacks, in December 2001, the well-known occurrence took place. After the shoe bomber was apprehended by passengers, Reid’s explosives failed to ignite, and the aircraft made a safe landing in Boston, according to NBC News.
