As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks, the Trump administration has moved to dismantle some of the airport security measures that were introduced in the wake of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. The changes, which include eliminating the requirement to remove shoes at checkpoints and testing a program that allows non-ticketed individuals to pass through security, represent a significant shift from the strict protocols that have defined air travel for a quarter-century.
The original security apparatus, built hastily after 9/11, was designed to prevent terrorists from turning commercial aircraft into weapons. Over time, additional restrictions were added, such as limits on liquids and gels, following foiled plots. While these measures have been credited with preventing another large-scale hijacking, they have also long been a source of frustration for travelers.
Under President Trump, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has argued that advances in screening technology now allow for a more tailored approach. Jamil Jaffer, founder of the National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, noted that “there’s some things you can do that you couldn’t do in the past that technology allows you to get to.” He pointed to an “evolution in technology” as a reason the rules can be relaxed.
But Jaffer also warned of the risks of rolling back too many measures at once. “While one of those things may not be the straw that breaks the proverbial camel’s back, it could be that if we do all these things simultaneously and we take our eye off the ball, it could be that a terrorist attack is successful,” he said.
The security changes come at a time when the threat landscape has evolved. The U.S. has ended its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Trump has re-engaged militarily in the Middle East, including strikes on Iran. Meanwhile, experts have repeatedly cautioned about the danger of lone-wolf attacks, which often target soft targets rather than highly fortified airports.
Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who was the first to dismantle a post-9/11 measure, ordered the end of the shoe removal rule. The move was popular with travelers but drew sharp criticism from Democrats and the DHS Inspector General, who found that full-body scanners were not always capable of detecting threats hidden in shoes. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, accused the administration of making the change for political reasons and of blocking congressional oversight.
“Reports indicate the Trump administration changed TSA’s shoe policy for political reasons, creating a completely unnecessary security gap, which is compounded by the increased threats from Trump’s unnecessary War in Iran,” Thompson said in a statement. “The Trump administration continues to block congressional oversight of TSA’s shoe policy change and refuses to adjust it in light of reported vulnerabilities.”
Despite the backlash, DHS is pressing forward with other adjustments, particularly for travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck, who have already undergone background checks. A pilot program at 13 airports now allows non-ticketed individuals to accompany passengers through security. Reports also suggest that PreCheck passengers may soon be allowed to carry water, thanks to new technology that can distinguish water from other liquids.
Stewart Verdery, a former DHS official under President George W. Bush, recalled that after 9/11, “we had to build basically a whole new security apparatus from scratch.” He described the early system as “one-size-fits-all,” with no differentiation among travelers. The introduction of programs like Clear and PreCheck marked the first steps toward what he called “risk differentiation.”
Verdery acknowledged that such changes require political courage. “It takes some political courage to turn off something that’s uniform and make it more risk-based, and that’s hard to get people—if they’re thinking of a zero-tolerance type of system—to do,” he said.
The public’s attitude toward airport security remains conflicted. While most Americans expect rigorous screening, many have long complained about the inconvenience of removing shoes or being forced to surrender toiletries. Verdery noted that TSA is held to an impossible standard, expected to catch every potential threat, a level of perfection not demanded of other DHS agencies. “Think of the Coast Guard. I mean, they’re not expected to find every drug boat, right? Or the border patrol is not expected to arrest every migrant. So, the zero tolerance is really only for TSA, which is an interesting conundrum for them to try to live under,” he said.
Verdery praised the administration’s focus on scaling back rules for PreCheck passengers, who have already been vetted. But the broader debate over how to balance security and convenience is likely to intensify as the 9/11 anniversary approaches and as Trump continues to reshape the nation’s counterterrorism policies.
