U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem made a lot of people happy on July 8, 2025, when she ended the Transportation Security Administration policy of required shoe removal for air passenger security screenings.
Noem credited "cutting-edge technological advancements" and a "multi-layered security approach" for the ability to end the unpopular regulation. The shoes-off policy had been in effect since August 2006—nearly five years after the failed shoe-bomb attempt in December 2001 that was the impetus for the rule.
But perhaps not everyone is happy about the shoe change.
The repeal of the policy takes away one of the key attractions for TSA PreCheck, a program that exempts travelers who applied and paid $79.95 for a five-year membership for the privilege of not needing to remove not only shoes, but also laptops, belts, light jackets and "3-1-1 liquids" bags.
Noem also in July noted that she is looking into other TSA rules and hinted that there might be a change to the amount of liquid travelers may include in their carry-on luggage, though there has been no such development in the succeeding months.
Another program Noem has championed, currently in a pilot phase launched this past summer, is One Stop Security, through which passengers flying to or from certain international airports with connecting flights can bypass a second security screening. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines each are part of the pilot, which is one of Noem's "top priorities," according to DHS.
Where Noem also has been influential is in relation to the deployment of Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents in cities across the country, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and New Orleans.
Multiple corporate travel managers, anecdotally, have mentioned that some employees have asked if it is safe to travel to these cities after hearing of ICE raids. Knowing what is happening and being able to assure travelers that visiting these cities is safe has become a new area of responsibility for travel managers.