Come on. It takes a minute to check shoes at the airport.

[applegrove]

Breaking WSJ:

Kristi Noem for months failed to appropriately respond to the findings of an internal watchdog that one of her biggest changes to airport security—allowing passengers to pass through screening checkpoints with their shoes on—is creating "significant" security risks.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1.bsky.social) 2026-02-28T02:45:34.713Z

[Blues Heron]

1. Don't tell me we have to take them off again!

[radical noodle]

2. They allow older people to board without shoe removal

I flew last summer (2025) and there was a sign near security that said a certain age and older were exempt from it. I am old enough that I was able to just walk on through.

When I flew the summer before, that was not the case. Shoe removal for everyone.

[TBF]

3. That was the ONE thing this admin did that I was happy about -

and now I'm annoyed that it came from Kristi Noem.

[Melon]

4. Taking shoes off his horrendous and time consuming

On the other side. I’m good with not checking them.

[3catwoman3]

5. Horrendous, time consuming...

…and hygienically disgusting 🤮.

I’ll wear one pair of socks and have a second pair, in a ziplock bag, at the ready in my purse. If I have to take my shoes off, as soon as I’m thru security, I take off the now-contaminated socks, put them in the ziplock, and put on the clean ones. I don’t want to step back into my shoes with the socks that have just walked thru gawd-knows-what.

[VTderry]

7. Thank you!

I've been doing the same for years (except I use footie socks that I slip on just before-- and off into a ziploc immediately after-- screening.) My husband thinks I'm the only one on the planet who does this. HA!

I'm flying in a couple of weeks and will be trying out a new variation... slip-on "water shoes." They are like footie socks but have a rubbery sole-- even less potential for the ick to reach my real socks AND a little extra grip.

I'll let you know how it goes!

And thanks for reassuring me there is at least one other person who gets grossed out by the thought of inviting whatever horrors lurk on the airport floor into her shoes.

[FormerOstrich]

8. That's exactly what I do!

And my hubby thought I was the only one, too!

I finally joined the TSA program and no longer have to take off my shoes...but I keep my footies ready just in case.

btw....I had MRSA (not yet diagnosed) on one of my toes when I flew. I didn't know what it was but knew it was nasty so I took a ton of precautions. After that, I reminded my hubby others may not be as cautious and to put on a sock.

[VTderry]

9. I have Trusted Traveler but usually wear the bulkiest

pair of shoes I'm traveling with on the plane to save space. So they sometimes still make me remove them.

And, other than at the originating US airport, TT means nothing on international flights like my upcoming one.

Since Noem has suspended Global Entry and TT "because of the shutdown" (but actually to try and annoy people into blaming Dems), I am preparing for the worst.

Anyway, cheers to us and jeers our doubting spouses!

[VMA131Marine]

6. Going through TSA preCheck means

Not having to take off shoes, belt or light jackets. If you fly often it is well worth the cost.