- The DHS ends the policy of “shoes” after almost two decades.
- Said that change will rationalize security and reduce waiting times.
- The rule was introduced in 2006 after the shoe bombing attempt.
Passengers traveling through American airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during pre-voltage security projections, the Ministry of Internal Security (DHS) announced on Tuesday.
The policy considered to be “humiliation” by many has been in place in the past twenty years, because even the dignitaries have been seeing their shoes and walking barefoot for the security authorization.
The American Secretary for Internal Security, Kristi Noem, announced that passengers can keep their shoes through the security projection at the TSA control points.
According to the Ministry of Internal Security, the new policy will increase hospitality for travelers and will rationalize the TSA security checkpoint process, which will cause lower waiting times.
The Security Administration transportation imposed this policy in August 2006 after an alleged terrorist (Abdel Rahim) Richard Reid, tried to explode a passenger plane using matches to ignite explosive hidden in his basketball shoes.
The so-called “shoe bomber” flew for Miami from Paris when a on-board agent noticed it trying to burn shoes loaded with explosives. Reid was resumed and the flight was redirected to Boston where this Muslim convert was arrested and pleaded guilty to accusations related to terrorism.
“The end of the” shoes “policy is the last effort that DHS implements to modernize and improve the experience of travelers at our country’s airports,” said secretary Noem.
According to the United States Ministry of Transport, more than a billion passengers traveled American airports in 2023. And the number increased in 2024.
“We expect this change to considerably reduce passenger waiting times to our TSA control points, leading to a more pleasant and more efficient experience. Voyage, ”said secretary Noem.
Other aspects of the IDF security approach will always apply during the TSA control point process. For example, the subject of passengers must always erase the verification of the identity, the verification of secure flights and other processes.
To put an end to the policy of “shoes” is the last of a series of changes implemented that DHS has implemented since its entry according to the Trump administration.
In May, the TSA began the implementation of real identity at the airport control points which experienced a 94% compliance rate which led to a more efficient security process.
