NATIONAL NEWS – TSA ends shoe removal requirement at airport security checkpoints

Ananya Roy, News Writer

Passengers in the U.S. will no longer need to remove their shoes at airport security checkpoints, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday. The change, effective immediately, follows a review of TSA screening protocols and applies to most travelers, excluding those flagged for additional screening. 

The decades-old rule was implemented after the 2001 “shoe bomber” incident, but had long been criticized as inconvenient. Travel industry leaders welcomed the shift, calling it a smart, risk-based move to streamline security.