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The administration ended the mandatory shoe screening requirement for commercial flights in July 2025.

The administration ended the mandatory shoe screening requirement for commercial flights in July 2025. This change follows a history of security protocols established in response to various aviation threats, including the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Before the 9/11 attacks, passengers were generally allowed to carry knives with blades under four inches and faced less restrictive screening. Following the attacks, Congress created the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to shift screening responsibility to government workers and established the Department of Homeland Security in 2002. New protocols included reinforced cockpit doors, mandatory baggage screening, and restrictions on liquids and gels. Recent innovations include the introduction of full-body scanners and the retractable security gate for new aircraft. The TSA is currently launching a program at 13 airports to allow pre-vetted travelers to meet friends and family at the gate, a move intended to improve the passenger experience without compromising security.

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