TSA Ends Shoe Removal: What You Need to Know

We Can Keep Our Shoes On Now?

Yes, really! As of July 8 2025, the TSA has scrapped its two-decade-old rule that forced every traveler: kids, grandparents, business execs, everyone to peel off their shoes at the checkpoint. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made it official in a nationwide press release, calling the change “one more step toward friction-free travel.”

Why now? After years of pilot tests with next-gen CT scanners and automatic threat-detection lanes, the agency says it can spot contraband in footwear without turning every boarding line into a sock parade. Reuters notes that the first airports rolling it out included Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and Philadelphia (PHL), with the rest following “over the coming weeks.”

For millions of tired travelers, this tiny win feels huge. If you fly domestic this summer, keep your shoes on, and walk right through… unless a screener flags you for a random secondary.

How We Got Here (20-Year Flashback)

• 2001: The spark. Richard Reid (aka the Shoe Bomber) tried to blow up a plane going from Paris-to-Miami, by detonating explosives he had packed into his sneakers. Reid, in turn, birthed the idea that even footwear can hide big threats.
• 2006: Rule becomes law. After a few interim tests, TSA makes shoe removal mandatory at every U.S. checkpoint. The policy was simple: shoes off – bins on the belt, and that stuck for nearly two decades.
• 2010s: Tech race vs. line rage. Full-body scanners appear, then updated Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT). They spot weapons better than the old metal arches, but still can’t see through dense rubber soles. Still travelers grumble; but the rule continues.
• 2013: PreCheck softens the blow. TSA launches its Trusted-Traveler Lane. Members (plus kids under 12 and adults over 75) get to keep shoes on, but everyone else keeps untying their laces.
• 2018-2024: CT scanners enter the chat. Computed-tomography lanes start popping up at Boston, Phoenix, Atlanta, and dozens more. They spin 3-D images of bags and, paired with automated threat-recognition software, and finally solve the “what’s in the heel?” problem.
• July 8 2025: Shoe rule retired! With CT coverage now coast-to-coast, Homeland Security says the risk-benefit math has flipped: faster lines, same security. Secretary Kristi Noem signs the order, and the first airports flick the “shoes stay on” switch that afternoon.

So basically, it took one failed bomb, 19 years of grumbling, and a fleet of smarter scanners to simply… let us keep our sneakers on.

What Changes on Screening Day

Here’s what your next trip through the checkpoint actually looks like:

A few pro tips

• Watch for signage. Most major hubs flipped the switch on July 8^th, but smaller airports have a “within weeks” grace period. If you see old posters, the local lane may still ask for shoes off.
• Go easy on hardware. Thick steel-toe work boots and platform heels might still trigger an alert. If the scanner pings, the officer can ask you to remove them on the spot.
• PreCheck’s edge shrinks but survives. You’ll still breeze past laptop-out and belt-off rules in the dedicated lane, and the lines remain shorter. Which is still worth keeping if you fly more than twice a year.

For most travelers, the biggest annoyance of U.S. security just vanished. Keep your shoes on, keep your socks clean, and save the bending for when you’re buckling the seat-belt.

When (and Where) Can You Keep Your Shoes On?

“Effective immediately” is what DHS said, but roll-outs always start somewhere first. According to sources, these airports flipped the switch on launch day (July 8^th 2025):

• Baltimore/Washington (BWI)
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG)
• Portland, OR (PDX)
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Piedmont Triad, NC (GSO)

It was also confirmed that Los Angeles (LAX) and New York LaGuardia (LGA) let passengers stroll through fully laced on Day 1.

What about your home airport?

• Major hubs (ATL, ORD, DFW, DEN, SEA, BOS) are slated to follow within two weeks, once every standard lane has a CT scanner or an alternate shoe-scanner pad.
• Smaller regionals may need until late August while they swap out older X-ray units.
• Look for signage, if the gate agent still shouts “shoes off,” that lane isn’t upgraded yet.

TSA says the nationwide coverage target is before Labor Day, which is just in time for the end-of-summer travel rush.

Tips to Breeze Right Through

• Stick to thin-soled, metal-free footwear. Heavy steel-toe boots or chunky buckles are the few things that can still trigger a secondary screen, so save them for checked luggage.
• Empty every pocket before you leave home. Keys, loose change, earbuds, even tissues slow the belt down. Start with an empty bag and stash metal items in a single zip pocket inside your carry-on.
• Add a digital ID to your phone. Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and several state apps now let you tap your mobile driver’s license at more than 250 TSA checkpoints—no fumbling for plastic. Always carry the physical ID as backup.
• Keep your liquids bag on top. Until the 3-1-1 rule dies, having that quart-size pouch in an exterior pocket means you can plop it in the bin without digging.
• Fly more than twice a year? Spring for PreCheck. Shoes on is nice, but skipping belt, laptop, and liquid removal (plus shorter lines) still shaves real time for frequent flyers.

A little prep at home equals fewer surprises at the checkpoint, so you can spend your spare minutes hunting for a coffee instead of hunting for your shoes.

FAQs Travelers Are Asking

Does the “keep-your-shoes-on” rule apply to everyone?

Yes. The new policy covers all domestic passengers. Children under 12 and adults 75+ were already previously exempt; now everyone is.

What if I’m flying internationally?

Departing the United States, you can keep your shoes on. When you return, you’ll follow that country’s rules on the outbound leg, then use the new U.S. policy once you reach an American checkpoint.

Can TSA still make me take them off?

It’s rare, but possible. Thick steel-toe boots, oversized buckles, or a random secondary screening can still trigger a quick shoe check.

Do PreCheck lanes lose their appeal now?

Not really. They still let you keep belts on, laptops and liquids in their bags, and you still get a shorter line. Maybe worth it, if you fly more than twice a year.

Are laptops or the 3-1-1 liquids rule next to disappear?

For now, no. TSA says both requirements remain until CT scanners fully replace older X-ray units nationwide.

How do I know my airport is updated?

Look for a blue sign reading “Shoes May Remain On” at the checkpoint, or check the airport’s social feeds, most major hubs announced the switch within 24 hours of the policy release.

Small Win, Bigger Trend

After nineteen years of half-tied laces and germy gray bins, the “shoes-off shuffle” is finally history. Chalk it up to better scanners, smarter software, and a push for smoother checkpoints. Liquids and laptops are still on the table, but DHS says more convenience tweaks are coming.

Now if you’re looking for remote airport jobs or TSA openings, check our diversity job board for the latest postings. Until then, enjoy the tiny luxury of walking through security fully laced and maybe stash a fresh pair of socks in your carry-on just in case the next rule that falls involves those plastic bins.

Sources:
1. Transportation Security Administration
2. Transportation Security Administration
3. Reuters
4. FBI
5. Passenger Terminal Today
6. AFAR
7. CT Insider
8. The Points Guy
9. FingerLakes1
10. Straight Arrow News