Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has floated the idea of lifting TSA liquid restrictions at airport security checkpoints in the United States, just days after the “shoes-off” requirement was lifted.
TSA May Eliminate Liquid Restrictions Much Sooner Than 2040
The current “3-1-1” rule from the TSA limits the number of liquids, gels, and aerosols, that passengers can take in their carry-on bags. Liquids cannot be in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of these items. This rule dates back to 2006.
It was only last year that TSA claimed liquids restrictions would “likely” remain in effect until 2040. But Noem is questioning whether this is necessary:
- What Noem said:
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking at the Hill Nation Summit, hinted that lifting the liquid ban “may be the next big announcement.” She said, “the liquids I am questioning,” adding that TSA is evaluating scanners and new screening tech. - Recent TSA changes:
The comments follow TSA’s move to eliminate the “shoes-off” requirement for domestic screening, now replaced by newer layered-security systems. - How it might look:
Noem envisions passengers walking through screening with their bags and heading to the gate “in about one minute,” thanks to advanced CT scanners. TSA will pilot these changes at select airports before considering a nationwide rollout (“We are working with several different companies with technologies to give us competitive bids on what they actually do. You will see us pilot this at a couple of airports before it gets implemented nationwide.”) - Why now:
Advancements in technology are driving the review. Noem emphasized that security policies should serve safety, not simply create delays. - Timeline & caveats:
Noem cautioned that changes are not imminent, saying not to expect a shift “in the next week or two.”
A full rollback depends on the deployment of CT scanners across hundreds of TSA checkpoints, a process that could still take years (“It’s not certainly anything we’ll be announcing in the next week or two, but we’re working to see what we can do to make the traveling experience much better and more hospitable for individuals, but also still keep safety standards.”)
Thank You President Trump?
In March, when Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) called the Abolish the TSA Act, I wrote:
Here’s a suggestion: instead of dismantling the whole system, how about we address pressure points within the current framework? For example, I propose eliminating immediately the liquid ban.
Let that serve as an experiment that would promote the objectives of Lee and Tuberville by streamlining security and also giving travelers more choice (airport concessionaires make a killing on bottled water…it’s ridiculous).
The liquid ban dates back to 2006 and while there is always some level of threat that liquids could be mixed for nefarious purposes, my own cost/benefit analysis weighs heavily on allowing liquids through checkpoints.
What if we start there and see how it goes?
View From The Wing nicely articulates why this could only happen under the Trump Administration…he’s been the antidote to the system of coalitions locking politicians into marginal change and status quo.
Now in most cases, I view this as destructive (another subject, for another day). Still, here I am quite happy to give credit where credit is due: rethinking airport security is something that should have been done years ago and I am grateful that Noem and Trump are willing to do it, despite institutional boundaries in place that would normally prevent such rapid change.
That’s because I don’t see, as I wrote above, a proper risk-benefit analysis that justifies it. I never have…
Death To The Airport Cartels
One of the great upsides of eliminating the liquid ban would be watching places like Hudson News suffer, which charge $5+ for a bottle of water. Allowing people to bring water bottles and other beverages through security checkpoints will hurt airport concessionaries, but for 20 years we’ve been ripped off by these places…I would shed no tears to see their demise.
The other day my kids wanted some candy, which I was happy to buy them to shut them up during the flight, but a bag of Skittles was $7.99…nearly triple the cost you would pay in a drug store or grocery store. I gave the kids a choice…get your gratification now and you can split a bag or wait until morning and I’ll buy you each a bag. They (wisely) chose to wait, each enjoyed their own bag the next day, and I saved money.
Candy is not a necessity, but water is…it’s not the sort of thing you can just wait until morning to consume.
CONCLUSION
Noem said, “Hopefully the future of an airport where I’m looking to go is that you walk in the door with your carry-on suitcase, you walk through a scanner and go right to your flight.” That would be great…and it is something that can strike the right balance between safety and security and strike a deadly blow to the airport cartels that rip passengers off on needed essentials like water bottles and other beverages post-security.
I’m strongly in favor of this move.
???? One step towards making America great again???
My goodness, is Trumpton trying to catch up with civilisation?
It will take a lot more than this to make an impression and convince people that they are not arriving or departing 1930s Germany.
Because the plan is to kill 7 million Jews to break the record, right?
You idiots on the left make it so easy to laugh at you with these stupid takes instead of complaining about legit concerns like the deficit. But you are more than happy to take advantage of the economic growth.
Not Jews because Bibi has Criminal Trump in his pocket but just about any other sort of migrant to feed the red necks.
But you can bring candy so your complaint about that pricing is on you. Has nothing to do with the liquid decision, which I’m personally against. I just don’t trust the technology but I don’t think the administration is going to make the choice if they aren’t 100% confident in it. Better safe than sorry.
As someone who attends a lot of concerts and sporting events, I know price gouging is there but it’s a choice you make, just like flying. I do wonder if liquor will be allowed? Sure it’s against the law to bring your own alcohol on a plane but does anything think it won’t happen?
Side note, flying this week I noticed in 2 airports the lines appeared equal in both regular and Precheck. The shoe change is really getting people through faster but also so many have PC anymore the benefit has been reduced.
“Better safe than sorry.”
A phrase that makes me think that security kabuki theater is about to ensue.
The current liquids rule is meaningless. Infant milk is exempt as well as some other liquids that can be tampered with. The 100ml requirement doesn’t limit how many units of a liquid can be included so “surfing” allows a liter of a liquid if you merely just have 10 small units.
Certainly, add the scanners but at this point, the requirement is merely a waste of time. Regarding Matt’s point about the cartels: This is mostly due by the airport’s high rents and political ties by the vendors. Certainly making security easier to go through will help undermine them as business falls.
@Polish … Security rules were never imposed with any thought for vendor profits .
Anyway , @Matthew could have easily paid the $7.99 cost of the candy . The article refers to “airport cartels that rip passengers off “. Snack shops are Not “cartels” . The problem with candy is not the price , but rather the tooth decay and eating unhealthy sugar .
Agreed that @Matthew objection to the skittles was tangental to the liquid rules although I disagree with your claim that security rules are “never” imposed with vendor profits in mind. They are at the ballpark and movie theater, certainly. I’d like to discuss the ballpark, particularly. I took my family for a day at the ballpark, classic Americana and the exorbitant prices for concessions was a turnoff. MLB makes most of their money from TV licensing so gouging ballpark goers is a bad idea in that my child will never grow up with nostalgic memories of the park and won’t pay the extra $30/month for a cable subscription nor become a shill for the advertisers. I noticed the park was 1/2 empty as well. Stupid business planning on their part.
I personally dislike skittles in that the flavoring tastes cheap and it’s raw sugar like pixie sticks. I’m surprised that @Matthew isn’t experienced enough to pre-pack snacks like I do with the movie theater. (Pro-tip: Hide snacks under clean diapers or feminine sanitary products, security won’t touch them.)
Bottom line: When beverages are legal to bring into airports, it certainly will impact the concessions prices.
Had a brainfart and had a bottled water with me while going through TSA. It got flagged when there was screening, but when TSA saw it, they just told me to keep moving instead of throwing it away.
@Dave … Good observations on economic choice to purchase snacks airside . It’s on the purchaser , really .
Anyway , I support the liquid and shoe rules , because as you wrote :”better safe than sorry” .
( About alcohol , speaking as a wise drinker , last I checked I could have duty-free at my seat . Ahhhh , gin . )
If you think the idea of maintaining the shoes rule up until recently, what do you say about the fact that 95% of the world does not have similar protocols, and haven’t had any such terrorist attacks?
Maybe both shoes and liquids rules made sense at one point. But they just aren’t a threat anymore.
Good news. Don’t agree with the Trump regime on much, but this is a great move. It will be nice to have the convenience of bringing more liquids onboard after nearly 18-20 years of having to be restricted by some onerous rules.
Anyone heard of a water bottle? Bring it and fill it up after security. Save $5
The feds really should have mandated a price the airports could charge for water. 50 cents for 24 ounces is the most they should charge and even that is much more than Walmart charges. Water isn’t beer, coke or food. I am have no problem with govt regulating water at airports. Prices are a ripoff at airports for other things too but water is basic. They should probably just make a deal with Walmart to provide the water cheaply.