The shoe removal process was implemented in 2006 "in response to an attempt by an airline passenger to conceal a bomb in his shoe," per USA TODAY.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a new policy stating the Transportation Security Administration will be eliminating the shoe removal security requirement “effective immediately.”

At a press briefing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport yesterday, DHS Sec. Kristi Noem discussed the new TSA policy that ends the practice of passengers having to remove shoes to get through security checkpoints.