The Department of Homeland Security announced on July 8 that airline passengers are no longer required to remove their shoes at airport security.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made the announcement during a press conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, pointing to the advancement of security technology. “We have a multilayered, whole-of-government approach now to security and to the environment that people anticipate and experience when they come into an airport that has been honed and it’s been hardened.”

“Ending the ‘Shoes-Off’ policy is the latest effort DHS is implementing to modernize and enhance traveler experience across our nation’s airports,” said Noem in a TSA press release. “We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience.”

The shoes-off rule was implemented in 2006, several years after a man named Richard Reid (also known as the “shoe bomber”) attempted to detonate homemade explosives hidden in his shoe on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami.

Previously, travelers with TSA PreCheck were not required to take their shoes off, nor were children younger than 12.

What to Remove at Airport Security

While shoes can now stay on at airport security, the following items still need to be removed from your body or luggage:

Additionally, any carry-on liquids, gels and aerosols still must abide by the “3-1-1” rule:

It is also important to empty miscellaneous items from your pockets, such as keys and wallets.

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