July 8 EST: For the first time in almost 20 years, many air travelers in the U.S. are walking through security without having to untie their shoes. No formal announcement. No national press release. Just a quiet shift at some major airports, where TSA officers have started telling passengers: “You’re good — leave them on.”
That’s right. The dreaded shoe-removal rule, burned into the muscle memory of millions since 2006, is being slowly — and somewhat confusingly — phased out.
Finally, Some Relief at the Checkpoint
It started this past weekend. Word trickled out that travelers at a handful of airports were no longer being told to take their shoes off. Not PreCheck members. Not VIP travelers. Just regular folks in the general screening lanes.
First came the reports from Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, Portland, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Greensboro. Then LAX and LaGuardia got in the mix. Flyers shared their surprise online: “No shoes off?” one traveler wrote on Threads. “Thought it was a mistake. But nope — officer just waved me through.”
It turns out, it wasn’t a mistake. According to an internal TSA memo first reported by The Wall Street Journal and travel outlet One Mile at a Time, the agency began rolling back the shoe rule on July 7, citing “enhanced screening technology” and updated threat assessments.
So… Is This Official?
Not exactly. The TSA and Department of Homeland Security haven’t made any big public statements. Instead, they’ve stuck to the vague language they usually use when something’s in testing mode: “We’re exploring innovative ways to improve the passenger experience.”
That’s bureaucrat-speak for: “We’re trying this out, but don’t hold us to it.”
The inconsistency is already causing headaches. At some airports, travelers are still being told to take off their shoes — even when signs don’t mention it. Others report full security lanes where no one is removing anything. One woman flying out of LaGuardia over the weekend said she was allowed through with her shoes on, while her husband — at the checkpoint next to hers — was told to take his off.
“It felt like some kind of TSA roulette,” she told The Sun.
Why Now?
The shoe rule dates back to 2006, after the failed “shoe bomb” plot by Richard Reid in 2001. For almost two decades, every passenger — young, old, able-bodied or not — had to untie or unstrap and walk barefoot or in socks through security.
It’s been the most griped-about part of the security process for years. Even TSA PreCheck, rolled out a decade ago, was largely marketed on the promise of keeping your shoes on.
So what’s changed?
Technology. Specifically, better imaging equipment that can scan for threats inside shoes without needing you to remove them. According to Good Morning America, the new scanners provide 3D views detailed enough to spot anomalies through most types of footwear.
The agency is also reportedly updating its internal threat models — and frankly, shoes don’t seem to rank as high-risk as they once did.
Not a Free Pass for Everyone
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a green light to show up in steel-toed boots and breeze through.
If your bag triggers an alarm, if your shoes look suspicious, or if you don’t have a Real ID, you might still be asked to remove them. It’s all at the discretion of the TSA officer — which, as travelers know, can vary wildly.
And while the list of participating airports is growing, it’s far from nationwide. Airports in Newark, JFK, Atlanta, and others haven’t reported widespread changes yet. Until they do, it’s probably wise to wear socks you’re not embarrassed to be seen in.
Travelers Caught Off Guard
One of the strangest things about the change is how quietly it’s happening. No big rollout. No press tour. No infographics or social media explainer threads from TSA.
That silence has led to — what else? — confusion.
“It was just weird,” said a traveler at PHL, who asked to go only by Mike. “I kept waiting for someone to yell at me when I didn’t take them off. Then I looked around, and nobody was. It felt wrong. But also kind of great.”
Online, people are already asking why the rule lasted this long if it wasn’t necessary. Fair question. Critics have long argued that post-9/11 security measures were reactive, often ineffective, and rarely reassessed. The fact that this change is happening quietly, without ceremony, probably says more about government risk tolerance than it does about national security.
What to Know Before You Fly
Here’s the gist: If you’re flying through one of the trial airports, you’ll probably be able to keep your shoes on — even in regular screening lanes. But don’t count on consistency yet. This is a phased rollout, and implementation depends heavily on the airport, terminal, and even the individual officer.
If you’re not Real ID-compliant, that might flag you for additional screening. If your shoes look bulky, metal-heavy, or just… strange, don’t be surprised if they ask you to slip them off. And if your bag sets off the scanner? Same deal.
But broadly speaking, this looks like the start of the end for one of air travel’s most annoying rituals. After nearly two decades of travelers balancing on one foot, hopping through security in socks, and forgetting where they put their shoes — a little relief is finally landing.
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A political science PhD who jumped the academic ship to cover real-time governance, Olivia is the East Coast's sharpest watchdog. She dissects power plays in Trenton and D.C. without bias or apology.
