What’s the big deal about shoes?

Since August of 2006, most travelers who wanted to board a plane in a United States airport were required to remove their shoes for security screenings. Children younger than age 12 have always been exempt from this requirement, as have travelers over age 75. And passengers who were part of a Trusted Traveler Program, like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, were similarly able to complete their security screening with their shoes on. But as of July 8, 2025, newly-announced Department of Homeland Security policy says that shoe removal is no longer a standard requirement for United States airport security screenings.

Why does this matter?

Travelers removing their shoes for screening has been identified as a significant source of security line bottlenecks. With all passengers now permitted to keep their shoes on as they go through screening, security lines should move more efficiently, helping TSA handle the record numbers of U.S. airline passengers. Just last month, TSA set a single-day record, screening 3.1 million travelers at U.S. airports on Sunday, June 22. This should also help with the annoying phenomenon at many airports of having to wait around while the item bins that shoes needed to be placed in are rounded up. Those bins will still be needed. Travelers will continue to deposit their quart-sized zip-top bag containing liquids, aerosols, or gels (3.4 oz. or less of each item) and any electronic devices larger than a cell phone (e.g. laptops, tables, e-readers, handheld game systems in bins to go through X-Ray screening.

Woo-hoo! I’ll never have to take off my shoes in the airport again!

Slow down – that’s not exactly true either. While wearing your shoes, you will continue to proceed through a body scanning device. If you elect not to be scanned, you may be required to remove your shoes as part of a secondary security screening. And some shoes may trigger a scanner such that secondary screening is required – shoes like Doc Martens or work boots often have a steel shank or steel internal toe box, which may require them to be removed for secondary screening.

Is it still worth it to be a “Trusted Traveler”?

If you were interested in being a Trusted Traveler before, this policy change probably won’t make a difference to you. While keeping shoes on is no longer an exclusive benefit for Trusted Travelers, TSA PreCheck benefits still provide greater streamlining of the security process. Trusted Travelers do not have to remove any items to go through security, including belts, light jackets, laptops and liquids, in addition to keeping their shoes on. And the security lines themselves that Trusted Travelers use are dedicated to them, with shorter wait times and faster processing. (Note: Global Entry includes the TSA PreCheck benefits, and adds expedited customs and immigration lines when returning to the U.S. from international destinations).

When’s your next opportunity to take advantage of this new TSA rule? Will being able to keep your shoes on change your decision-making process about whether or not to book travel that includes a flight or flights?