Senator Demands Return of Airport "Shoes-Off" Rule

A U.S. senator is pushing to reinstate a strict airport security measure that many travelers dislike. Senator Tammy Duckworth has formally asked the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to bring back its rule requiring all passengers to remove their shoes at security checkpoints. The policy was standard for years after a 2001 attempted bombing involving shoes. The TSA relaxed the rule for certain travelers in 2021. Its "PreCheck" trusted traveler program allows members to keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on. Duckworth argues the current system is a security risk. In her letter to the TSA, she stated that keeping the shoes-on privilege only for PreCheck members creates an obvious weakness. She believes terrorists could exploit this by applying for PreCheck to avoid shoe screening. The TSA has not yet publicly responded to the request. If adopted, the change would mean longer security lines and a return to the familiar routine of removing shoes for all air travelers.