TSA ends shoe removal rule at SFO and other major airports
A memo distributed to TSA officers nationwide last week outlined the policy change.
'The new policy will allow all passengers to keep their shoes on in all screening lanes at many airports across the country,' it states.
A spokesperson for SFO confirmed that the new procedures were in effect at the airport as of Tuesday morning.
The update marks the end of a rule that has defined air travel for nearly two decades.
The TSA began requiring passengers to remove their shoes in 2006, five years after Richard Reid attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes aboard a transatlantic flight in December 2001.
Until now, only travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck were typically allowed to keep their shoes on.
According to the memo, the agency plans to expand the policy to all U.S. airports soon. However, passengers whose footwear sets off alarms at scanners or magnetometers will still be asked to remove their shoes for additional screening.
'TSA and DHS are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture,' TSA public affairs said in a statement. 'Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels.'
The White House Press Secretary called the change 'big news' in a post on the social platform X, sharing the report from the Department of Homeland Security.
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