Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration, announced the change in a press conference on July 8. The new TSA policy went into effect immediately. “TSA will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes when they go through our security checkpoint," Noem said.

As of Tuesday, passengers at U.S. airports are no longer required to remove their shoes during the TSA screening process.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a major shift to airport security protocol, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has ended the long-standing requirement for most passengers to remove their shoes at U.S. airport checkpoints. The change, effective immediately, was announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on July 8.