The amount of liquids airline passengers can bring on board could soon change, according to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
During an event on Wednesday, Noem teased the move as part of wider changes in security requirements at airports, without specifying when they might come into effect.
When contacted for comment, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Newsweek it was “constantly looking for ways to enhance security.”
Why It Matters
In 2006, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began limiting liquids, gels and aerosols in passenger carry-on luggage for commercial aircraft to 3.4-ounce containers or smaller as a safety measure to prevent explosives from being brought on board.
The easing of these requirements could spell an end to travelers guzzling liquids at checkpoints and ditching items that do not meet the size allowance.
Noem’s latest comments follow her announcement that DHS was ending its requirement for passengers to remove their shoes, a policy implemented in 2006 after Richard Reid tried to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his shoes while on a 2001 flight from Paris to Miami.
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What To Know
On July 8, Noem said DHS could end the shoe removal policy because of TSA security measures now in place, including additional officers at security checkpoints, new scanners and technology, and the recently enforced REAL ID requirement.
At the Hill Nation Summit in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Noem said that when she assumed her role, she questioned everything TSA did.
She said she was now looking at the policy regarding the amount of liquids passengers can bring on board, adding that “what size your liquids need to be” might be the next “big announcement.” Other security measures were being examined to see whether it was safe to increase the amount of liquids that can be brought on board.
When asked by Blake Burman, NewsNation’s chief Washington correspondent, what her vision was for airports, Noem said she hoped passengers could walk in the door with their carry-on suitcase, walk through a scanner and go straight to their flights in a process that would take “one minute.”
When contacted by Newsweek, TSA provided the same statement as DHS, saying that along with Noem, it was “constantly looking for ways to enhance security.”
What People Are Saying
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Wednesday: “The liquids I’m questioning, so that may be the next big announcement is what size your liquids need to be. We’re looking at our scanners. We have put in place in TSA, multilayered screening process that allows us to change some of how we do security and screenings.”
TSA told Newsweek: “Secretary Noem and TSA are constantly looking for ways to enhance security and improve the travel experience for the public. Any announcements on policy changes will be made through official channels.”
What Happens Next
Noem did not provide a time frame for the proposal but said she was working with several companies for “competitive bids” on technology that could make airports easier for passengers. She said there would be trials at a couple of airports before nationwide implementation.