For nearly 20 years, millions of bare feet have marched through security checkpoints at airports around the country, a motley parade of hairy and Roman toes, calloused soles and cracked heels, nails black from marathons or chipped red from faded manicures. These feet are best enjoyed in private. Yet since 2006, they have been on stark display.

As of Tuesday, passengers at U.S. airports are no longer required to remove their shoes during the TSA screening process.

Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration, announced the change in a press conference on July 8. The new TSA policy went into effect immediately. “TSA will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes when they go through our security checkpoint," Noem said.