T.S.A. Officially Tells Air Travelers They Can Keep Their Shoes On
T.S.A. Officially Tells Air Travelers They Can Keep Their Shoes On

Pointing to “layered screening,” Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, ended two decades of socks and bare feet at U.S. airport checkpoints.
Read the full article on NY Times Politics
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article is mostly accurate, with the core claim of the TSA ending the shoes-off policy supported by multiple sources. The claim about Kristi Noem's role is plausible given the context but requires further verification as her specific role isn't explicitly confirmed in the provided sources. There's a slight bias towards highlighting the potential negative impact on PreCheck users.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim:** T.S.A. Officially Tells Air Travelers They Can Keep Their Shoes On.
- Verification Source #2, #4, and #5 support this claim.
- Claim:** Pointing to “layered screening,” Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, ended two decades of socks and bare feet at U.S. airport checkpoints.
- Verification Source #2 mentions the change but doesn't specify the reason or the individual responsible.
- Verification Source #4 mentions the TSA will begin to allow passengers to keep their shoes on.
- Verification Source #5 doesn't mention Kristi Noem or the reason for the change.
- Fail to cover:* The specific role of Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary and her direct involvement in ending the policy is not explicitly verified by the provided sources. While plausible, it remains unverified.
- Claim:** (Implied) This change is recent and occurring in 2025.
- Verification Source #2, #4, and #5 all have dates in July 2025, supporting this claim.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Agreement:** Verification Source #2, #4, and #5 all confirm the TSA is planning to allow travelers to keep their shoes on.
- Lack of Coverage:** The specific role of Kristi Noem and the exact reasoning behind the policy change are not consistently covered across all sources.
- Potential Bias:** Verification Source #5 includes a quote suggesting the change "will significantly diminish the value of PreCheck," indicating a potential negative consequence. This could be interpreted as a slight bias against the policy change.