U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently announced that the nearly 20-year-old airport security shoe inspection rule will be completely lifted. The Associated Press reported that the next step may be to relax the restrictions on passengers’ carry-on liquids.
At a meeting hosted by The Hill on the 16th, Noem said she was reviewing the various measures implemented by the Federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and mentioned that the amount of liquids that passengers can carry in their carry-on luggage may be adjusted.
Noem pointed out that she is reviewing the regulations on liquids, “so the next major announcement may be the amount of liquid allowed.” She added that the TSA has established a multi-layer screening mechanism that allows them to adjust some security and inspection operations while maintaining the same level of security. But Noem did not disclose the specific content of the relevant changes, nor did she say when passengers can expect to see the changes.
According to current TSA regulations, passengers can carry travel liquid containers of no more than 3.4 ounces (about 100 milliliters) in carry-on luggage, and they must be placed in a quart resealable plastic bag. Larger liquid containers must be placed in checked luggage, but medications and infant formula are exceptions.
During the conversation that day, Noam also described her vision for future airport travel. She said that the future she longs for is “walking into the airport gate with a carry-on bag, passing through the scanner and boarding the plane directly.”
Noam said: “The whole process only takes one minute.”
