Calls to Reinstate Airport Shoe Removal Rule

Democratic lawmakers are urging the Department of Homeland Security to bring back the debated “shoes-off” regulation for airport travelers. They argue that removing it was “reckless and dangerous.”

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) criticized former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for repealing the policy last July, a move made nearly twenty years after it was first put into place at U.S. airports.

In a letter to Ha Nguyen McNeil, the acting head of the TSA, Duckworth described Noem’s decision to enact the shoes-on policy as “likely made without meaningful consultation with TSA,” calling it a reckless act.

Just months prior, an internal DHS investigation revealed that security scanners were incapable of effectively screening shoes. Duckworth highlighted this as a significant concern, mentioning that leaving such a security loophole unaddressed for months is a serious lapse in TSA’s responsibilities.

The senator called for an immediate reversal of Noem’s policies, stating they increase the risk of terrorists smuggling dangerous items onto flights. She expressed that Noem’s changes have inadvertently opened up new vulnerabilities in the security system.

The shoes-off policy had been enforced since 2006 but was abolished just before millions of tourists were anticipated to arrive in the United States for significant events like the 250th anniversary and the World Cup.

Noem, however, is confident that safety standards can be maintained without the policy. She stated that this change is expected to lower passenger waiting times at TSA checkpoints and improve overall traveler comfort.

She insisted that, thanks to advances in technology and a multi-layered security strategy, the highest safety standards will still be upheld.

Previously, travelers aged between 12 and 75 were required to remove their shoes during screening, although those enrolled in the TSA’s Pre-Check program were exempt from this rule.

The shoe removal policy was introduced following the anti-terrorism incident involving “shoe bomber” Richard Reed. He attempted to blow up an American Airlines flight in December 2001 by hiding explosives in his shoe, a plan that ultimately failed. Reed pled guilty to several terrorism-related charges and was sentenced to life in prison.