DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) - Airport-goers will have one less thing to worry about the next time they travel, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is walking back one of its most notorious, or for some most annoying, rules.

In an internal memo sent to TSA officers nationwide, the government agency announced that, beginning Monday, July 7, it is implementing a policy update related to security screenings that will now allow all travelers to keep their shoes on during the screening process.

Previously, only individuals enrolled in TSA PreCheck were allowed to keep on their shoes during screening, and the shoe removal rule itself has been in place since 2006 in response to the infamous “Shoe Bomber” incident, which occurred a little over three months after the tragic September 11 terrorist attacks.

The walk back of the nearly two-decade-old rule is reportedly partly due to advancements made by TSA, with modern security equipment now capable of detecting hazardous items or materials more effectively, in addition to an organizational reassessment of threat-level risks.

A TSA spokesperson released a statement about the reported change, which didn’t officially confirm the internal memo but said that the agency was “always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance passenger experience and our strong security posture.”

“Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels,” the spokesperson added.

The policy change would be the latest implemented by TSA, which earlier this year began fully enforcing REAL ID (known as STAR ID in Alabama) for non-passport individuals traveling domestically in the U.S. This policy update notes that non-REAL ID compliant passengers will still have to adhere to the shoe removal rule at this time.

In recent years, TSA has undergone a lot of scrutiny in relation to its screening standards, to the point where some politicians have even pushed to abolish the agency altogether and put airlines in charge of screenings.

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