- 7/8/2025
DHS Sec. Kristi Noem holds a press briefing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to announce an end to the TSA's policy of requiring passengers to remove their shoes at security checkpoints.
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00:00Good afternoon, everyone. I am Kristi Noem. I am the Secretary of Homeland Security. Thank
00:24you so much for coming out today. We have some very exciting news to announce that today
00:28we have started a new no-shoes policy with the Department of the Transportation Security
00:35Administration. TSA will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes when they go
00:40through our security checkpoints. This is something that I know for quite some time people have talked
00:46about and discussed, and we know that when President Trump was elected that he pledged to
00:51make life better for all Americans, and that includes those who are travelers going through
00:55our busy airports. We want to improve this travel experience, but while maintaining safety
01:01standards and making sure that we are keeping people safe as they go to take their vacations,
01:06travel for work, or spend time with their families. So we took a hard look at how TSA does its business,
01:12how it does its screening processes, and what we do to make people safe, but also provide some
01:18hospitality as well. Now, this is especially important to streamline the process and look
01:23at efficiencies that we can build in as we build up for some big events that are going to be coming
01:27here in the next 12 months here in the United States of America. As you all know, right now,
01:32we have the club championships going on. A lot of travelers and visitors are coming into the country,
01:38but next year we will also have the Olympics that will be in the United States of America.
01:43The World Cup matches will be happening, as well as many America 250 events. All of those will bring
01:50us record travelers to the United States. Many, many people will be on airlines traveling in and out
01:56of our airports, and it's important that we find ways to keep people safe, but also streamline and
02:02make the process much more enjoyable for every single person. TSA first implemented the No Shoes
02:07Policy in 2006, almost 20 years ago. And in those 20 years since that policy was put in place,
02:15our security technology has changed dramatically. It's evolved. TSA has changed. We have a multi-layered,
02:23a whole-of-government approach now to security and to the environment that people anticipate and
02:29experience when they come into an airport that has been honed and it's been hardened. We are very
02:35confident that we can continue to provide hospitality to folks and for American travelers and for those
02:41visiting our country while maintaining the same standard of security for passengers and for our
02:46homeland. The key to our approach is layered security. Passengers will still pass through
02:51multiple layers of screening. They'll also go through identity verification, and in fact, TSA has
02:57recently experienced some fantastic success with implementing Real ID. As you know, Real ID was put
03:04into statute over 20 years ago, and we recently put that into place that went seamlessly. In fact,
03:11right now we are experiencing over 94 percent compliance with passengers who come through our
03:17airports and screening processes with Real ID compliant identification. Now, as you know, most of
03:25those IDs, if they're driver's licenses, they'll have a star in the right-hand corner. They may use other
03:30federally recognized identification such as passports or tribal IDs or military IDs, but many people
03:37thought that when Real ID was implemented that it would be difficult. Some in the mainstream media
03:43talked about it being Armageddon, that it wouldn't be able to happen, and it has happened seamlessly
03:49because of the hard work of those who work within TSA and because of our security officers who worked very
03:57hard to make sure that passengers were compliant, but to do it in a way that facilitated their traveler.
04:02So please, I'd encourage all Americans to still go out there if you don't have your Real ID yet.
04:07It does help us identify who you are and keep passengers safe, and we would encourage you to go
04:14so and to do that. Now, we're just getting started. We've implemented several transformational
04:19changes at TSA and our security checkpoints already just since the Trump administration has come into
04:25office. We have recently piloted different types of security lanes. We have family lane
04:31security checkpoints that are open at several airports that allow families to get screened
04:35separately from other people so that it can be very accommodating for them and their experience
04:40with children or small babies. We also have implemented around some of our air bases and
04:45facilities the ability to have a military lane that expedites the process for those who currently
04:51served in our armed services, those who are stepping up to defend our freedoms, that they can have a
04:56security checkpoint specifically dedicated to them and in those areas where we see high traffic volumes
05:02of those who serve. With this no shoes policy, we anticipate that Americans and travelers and those coming
05:10into our country will be very excited that they will no longer have to remove their shoes. The one thing that I
05:15will say is that doesn't mean that there won't be times once in a while where someone will have to
05:20remove their shoes if they get put into a different situation or need additional layers of screening where
05:26that may be asked of them, but overwhelmingly the policy will be that no longer will that be required
05:32of every single person that comes to a checkpoint. The golden age of America is here. We're so excited that
05:39we can make the experience for those individuals traveling throughout our airports in the United States much more
05:45hospitable, more efficient for them, more timely, and that they can get to their destinations and spend
05:51much more time with their loved ones and with their families and with those accomplishing great things
05:56for their future. So with that, I will open it up to any questions that any of you may have. Yes, ma'am.
06:08Thanks so much, Ellen from Bloomberg. Can you say whether travelers who don't have real IDs
06:13will have to take off their shoes? Yeah, that is not going to be specifically required for individuals
06:18who don't have real IDs. They still won't have to take off their shoes. If they do get flagged for a
06:23different reason or need additional screening, that may be required of them, but they won't be
06:28specifically identified as someone who has to remove their shoes. I do want to introduce behind me too as
06:33well. We have some fantastic TSO officers behind us, some employees working with TSA, and then also we have
06:41Ha and Adam who have been here working in leadership in TSA. They've been so grateful for them in their
06:48out-of-the-box thinking at how we implement reforms and make this experience much more available for
06:53those individuals who are traveling through our airports. I'll come to you next.
06:57Good afternoon, Secretary. Nicole Johnson from Reuters. Question.
07:05What recent changes to security equipment or threats data has offered you the assurance to
07:12make this change? We've gone back and looked at our security processes, looked at the efficacy of
07:19everything that we do, every screening process that we have to see what results it is giving us, what
07:24information it is giving us about travelers, and then our technologies, if it's giving us the information we need
07:29as far as the screening of individuals, whether it's mectometers or whether it is processes where
07:35they're being identified by a TSO. So all of that has been evaluated to see what is affected,
07:40what should stay in place, and what should be removed to streamline the process. Yes.
07:50Hello. Roberto Macedonio for NTN24.
07:53Mr. Secretary, I would like to ask you about President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro.
07:58He sent a letter to Donald Trump retracting his accusations about the U.S. government was doing
08:06a coup d'etat in Colombia. Do you have any opinion? That the president was doing what in Colombia?
08:12He was conspiring against the Colombian government to take them off of the power. This is what President
08:19Petro said about Marco Rubio. He sent a letter to Donald Trump retracting himself after these
08:25accusations. What do you think about that that Petro did? Well, I won't speak to that today,
08:31since we want to focus on the American security here at our airports today. But I know that President
08:36Trump is working very hard to build relationships with all countries in order to make sure that we are
08:42returning their citizens back home that may be in our country illegally committing crimes. We've had
08:47conversations on security agreements with Colombia, and I know that also trade negotiations have been
08:52ongoing with the country as well, and we're hoping for a better relationship there. Yes.
08:59Hi, Madam Secretary, Luke Barr with ABC News. Can you talk a little bit about what the next steps are,
09:03what the timeline looks like, when this will be implemented, and then why now? What is the reasoning
09:08for this policy to be put in place now? And then I have an off-topic question.
09:11Well, as soon as President Trump came into office, you know, he encouraged all of us as Cabinet
09:16Secretaries to evaluate every agency and department, see what we can do to save taxpayers money,
09:22keep more money in their pockets, to give them more opportunities to enjoy their freedoms and
09:27liberties, to keep them safe. And certainly that is my job as Homeland Security Secretaries,
09:32to evaluate everything that we do and make sure that we're protecting American citizens here in our
09:36homeland. So in working with TSA, we've gone back and evaluated all of our security screening
09:41processes and looked at how effective they've been, if they've yielded the results that we want.
09:47What kind of technologies can we implement that will keep people safer? I'm excited about the fact
09:52that we have the big, beautiful bill that has been signed and put into law. That'll give us resources
09:57that we can continue to invest in new technologies. That gave us the opportunity to focus on exit lanes.
10:04We can implement technologies there, new screening processes that will help us screen your bags faster,
10:10make sure that when we're going through checkout lanes and security lanes, that we have the ability
10:16to scan individuals. Potentially, if people choose to opt in, use biometrics to identify people quicker,
10:23so that they have the ability to go through much more in a streamlined fashion. So all of those resources
10:30will be plugged into making this a much more efficient, safe, and I would say advanced security
10:38system than we've ever had before. But that is, I think, the key to all of government under President
10:43Trump's administration, is that we evaluate everything that we do and make sure that it is
10:48something that is best serving the American people. And that's one of the reasons that you see this
10:52policy being implemented today. Yes. Hi, Sarah Plass with CBS News. A little bit of a two-part question
11:00for you. Sure. Is this an immediate nationwide rollout starting today? Yes.
11:04Yes. And then do you feel like immediately you have every airport nationwide has the capability to
11:13stop, you know, a shoe bomb or whatever it might be right now from making it through security?
11:18We've gone back and evaluated this process and how we screen individuals and looked at the efficacy of it
11:26and making sure that everything that we do matters. And if it is something that is beneficial that helps us in
11:31the screening process, we will continue to do it. So there will be individuals at times that will be
11:36asked to remove their shoes. If we think there is additional layers of screening that is necessary,
11:42that may still happen to an individual. But we are excited with the fact that we have the technology
11:48now, that we have the multi-layers of screening in place that we've built in over the recent several
11:54years that give us the ability to allow our travelers to keep their shoes on.
11:58Yes. Hi. I'm Pavan from Politico. The Supreme Court ruled this afternoon to allow President
12:07Trump to move forward with mass firings of federal workers. Will the TSA move forward with a reduction
12:11in force and what could that look like and when? We'll continue to evaluate the decisions out of the
12:17Supreme Court. But as always, we comply with court requirements and federal court decisions. Yes.
12:24Hi. Alexandra Scores, CNN. I'm wondering if this shoe removal policy was that some level of security
12:35theater? You know, why did we do it all these years? Everything that TSA does and requires of
12:41travelers has always been necessary. But they have advanced over the years. Since the no shoes policy
12:47went into place in 2006, we have made advancements in how we screen individuals. As you've gone and traveled
12:53through airports, I'm sure you've recognized it as well. We've added new scanners, new technologies,
12:59more TSO officers in some areas. If the real ID compliance allows us another layer of security,
13:06knowing who's going through our checkpoints and who isn't, you'll still see dogs being used
13:12to be able to check different bags and individuals as they go through. So all of those processes give us
13:18the ability to allow travelers now to keep their shoes on. Yes, follow up.
13:22And so knowing that, does this new implementation lessen the value of pre-check? And will we see
13:31decreases in prices maybe? I believe pre-check will still be something that many travelers will want
13:37to utilize because when they have TSA pre-check, they won't have to take off their belt or their coat or
13:42remove things out of their bag, such as laptops or compliant liquids. So TSA pre-check still adds
13:50a value to those travelers. What we're implementing here today for every single traveler is just that
13:55they get the chance to keep their shoes on, which I think they'll be thrilled about. Yes.
14:02Hi, this is Marta Garde from FNU Services. Mr. President said today that you are not going to need
14:07so much border funding because no migrants came into the border last month. How much do you think
14:13that you can save and how are you planning to spend those savings? Yes, we are continuing to look at the
14:19dollars that were appropriated to the Department of Homeland Security through the big beautiful bill.
14:25And the border wall still needs to be finished as far as infrastructure. And also when the last border wall
14:31was built during the first Trump administration, the structure was completed, but the technology around
14:37it was not fully implemented. So we still need to deploy a lot of the surveillance, the cameras,
14:43and the ability to have the kind of security system in place around the wall to make sure that we truly
14:50have a secure border far into the future. So we'll evaluate that. And absolutely, the president
14:56is encouraging everyone to not just look at the dollars that were appropriated, but how can we
15:01save as much as possible that doesn't need to be spent and be accountable to the taxpayers?
15:09Other questions? Yes. Each airport has different equipment with variant capabilities. How will
15:14you be sure that every airport in the U.S. has the necessary technology it needs? We've evaluated the
15:20equipment that every airport has and are fully confident at the no shoes policy that we still have
15:26the security needs in place at every single checkpoint. I think you'll be excited to hear,
15:32though, that we have the ability now to implement even more technologies. And we will be piloting
15:38several different security checkpoints across the nation at different airports that will allow
15:43individuals to come in through a security checkpoint and maybe not even have to interact with officers
15:50at all. Walk through machines, keep their bag with them, not remove laptops. All of those are technologies
15:56that we're exploring right now that we could put into place. And I think over the next six to nine months,
16:01you will see across the country pilot lanes and security checkpoints that will give us even more
16:07advancements and make this security process much more streamlined for the traveler. Yes.
16:13With the new technology you're talking about, is there any plan to take a look at the liquid rules
16:21or any other rules like that? I would say that every rule is being evaluated. All of you have traveled
16:29and all of you know that sometimes the checkpoints can be cumbersome and unpredictable based on what the
16:35situation is there. And so with removing your technology, the liquids, your belts, your coats,
16:42your shoes, all of them are being evaluated and looked at. But it can only be accomplished if we
16:47have the adequate technology to make sure we're doing this safely and still keeping our systems
16:53hardened against those who would wish to perpetuate criminal activity against our airlines or those
16:59who would travel in our airways. So we'll continue to look at them, but no announcements made in those areas
17:05today. One more question. Yes, sir. But we'll do two because I saw both of you. So we'll do those two.
17:12Ethan Beck, Washington Post. Earlier today, a Border Patrol agent in Van Nuys, California said that
17:18three individuals had been arrested for attempting to disable vehicles and that they'll face felony
17:22charges. I'm sorry, I can't hear you. Can you say that again? Yeah. A U.S. Border Patrol agent in Van Nuys,
17:28California said that three individuals had been arrested for attempting to disable vehicles and that they'll
17:33face felony charges. Can you confirm which agency actually arrested them and the charges filed?
17:38I can't confirm that for you, but I will follow up with you on that. Yes. And I do want to remind
17:44everybody that when it comes to security, I'm very grateful for all of our law enforcement officers,
17:49for our security officers here that work with TSA as well, for what they're doing to protect the
17:55American homeland. We live in times where individuals are choosing to attack law enforcement officers while
18:01they're doing their duties. In fact, we've seen a 700 percent increase in violence against some of
18:06our law enforcement officers in recent months. I'd encourage everybody in America to go out and to
18:11thank a law enforcement officer, someone who serves to keep our country safe. They do hard work. They
18:16spend hours a day. Many of the individuals behind me spend many hours dealing with tired individuals
18:22traveling who haven't been home for a while, living out of suitcases, and they're very patient and
18:27wonderful. If we have an opportunity to thank them for what they're doing, that would be a wonderful
18:32thing that we could we could do. And yes, did you have a question? Yes. Final question. Evan
18:39Kosel from Spectrum News. Quick off topic about farmers. So many of them rely on unauthorized workers.
18:45Has there been any discussion about some sort of program to transition them towards H2A so that these farmers
18:51aren't left without labor? No. Some of the discussion when working on some of our labor force in the
18:57country, and especially in regards to farmers, under the Department of Homeland Security, I, as a
19:03secretary, have the authority to go forward and to administrate H2A visas. And so we'll be working on
19:10those and making sure that we're helping to meet the needs of the labor force that farmers and ranchers
19:14need across this country. As you all know, food security is a national security issue. It's imperative that we
19:21grow our own food in this country so that we rely only on ourselves for that. The day another country
19:26grows our food for us is when they control us. So we care very much about farmers. We care very much
19:32about every worker in this country. But number one, this president cares about upholding the law. And we
19:37will be a nation of laws that will make sure that the laws are applied equally to everyone and that we no
19:45longer, like the previous administration, pick winners and losers and decide who the law,
19:50what law we're going to enforce and who it applies to. All right. Well, thank you so much. And we will be
19:56around for a little bit if any of you have follow-up questions. And thank you once again to Adam and to
20:00Ha for all their hard work in making sure that we're continuously evaluating the travel experience
20:07for every single person coming through our airports. I think most Americans will be very excited to see that
20:13they get to keep their shoes on and it will be a much more streamlined process going forward. Thank
20:19you. Have a wonderful day.