DHS Sets its Sights on TSA’s Carry-on Liquids Limits

First went the shoes-off policy, and now it appears the Department of Homeland Security is flirting with adjusting limits on the liquids you can take through airport security. 

Wednesday afternoon, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made comments that her agency is looking at altering the size requirements for carry-on liquids at The Hill Nation Summit.

“The liquids I’m questioning, so that may be the next big announcement is what size your liquids need to be,” Noem said at the Washington, D.C. event. “We’re looking at our scanners, what we have put in place in TSA, multi-layered screening process that allows us to change some of how we do security and screening so it still is safe.” 

Currently, passengers traveling from U.S. airports can only bring 3.4-oz containers of liquids, gels, and aerosols and those containers must fit into a single, quart-sized resealable clear bag. It’s a policy that’s been in place since 2006. 

Noem did not disclose any specifics about this potential new policy, including what the new limits would be or when this change could be implemented. 

Just within the last week, the Department of Homeland Security and the TSA implemented a new policy allowing travelers to keep their shoes on when going through all security lines. The change happened quickly and without much warning, so it’s possible this liquids policy change could come to fruition quickly as well – especially considering the shoes policy announcement was a popular move for the embattled Trump administration. 

Bottom Line

While details are scant, it appears the Department of Homeland Security is looking at altering its liquid size requirements for carry-on passengers. 

The hint from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem comes just days after the TSA officially changed its policy to allow all travelers to leave their shoes on through security.