JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Department of Homeland Security announced a major change Tuesday in airport checkpoints: You can keep your shoes on!
After nearly two decades of having to remove your shoes before going through security at airports, you no longer have to do so.
The nationwide policy change is now in effect at all airports, including JAX.
“It just makes it easier,” said Erika Pitts, who was traveling to Jamaica for a vacation with her sister. “You don’t feel so violated having to be on the floors in the public airport. I think it is a good thing, and I think it will probably speed up the process.”
Mike Nguyen and his wife, who flew to San Francisco from Jacksonville early Wednesday morning, were also excited about the new policy.
“It is great because we do not have to waste our time taking off our shoes, then putting on our shoes and everything,” Nguyen said. “I think it is a plus.”
Linda Edwards said it was a needed change after an experience she had a few years ago when flying from Texas back home to Jacksonville.
“I lost a shoe, and I had to travel the whole time with one shoe going through checkout,” Edwards said. “It is very uncomfortable walking through there with so many people with no shoes.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said there is going to be a continued focus on “multi-layered security screening,” which includes existing and new technology to scan people’s bags, and even using biometrics to identify people faster.
“We want to improve the travel experience,” Noem said during a news conference Tuesday. “But while maintaining safety standards and making sure that we are keeping people safe as they go to take their vacations, travel for work or spend time with their families.”
The no-shoes policy was implemented back in 2006 in response to a situation in December 2001 when a passenger unsuccessfully tried to conceal a bomb in his shoe.
“We have added new scanners, new technologies, more TSO officers in some areas,” Noem said. “The Real ID compliance allows us another layer of security, knowing who is going through our checkpoints and who isn’t. You will see dogs being used to be able to check different bags and individuals as they go through.”
Since 2006, it has been a standard to have to take off your shoes during screening.
Noem says the hope is for the screening process to be faster, especially as the United States is going to have some major events within the next year, leading to more people going through security.
The World Cup will be in New Jersey in July 2026, and there are different plans in place for America’s 250th birthday.
“Many, many, many people will be traveling in and out of our airports,” Noem said. “It is important that we find ways to keep people safe, but also streamline and make the process much more enjoyable for every single person.”
This also comes as the Jacksonville International Airport broke a record in 2024 for the number of people who came through security checkpoints.
More than 7.6 million people flew out of Jacksonville, which means there was an average of close to 21,000 people every day who went through security.
There may still be times when people will have to take off their shoes.
Noem said if there are circumstances where TSA determines additional screening is needed as people are going through security, they may be asked to remove their shoes. But it is no longer the standard practice.
