TSA is preparing to modify the liquid rule

After nearly two decades of confiscated shampoos, travel-size toothpaste, and endless reminders about the 3-1-1 rule, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is signaling it may finally be ready to roll back one of its most controversial policies: the ban on liquids over 3.4 ounces in carry-on luggage.

Thanks to new computed tomography (CT) scanners being rolled out at airports nationwide, the agency is preparing to retire this long-standing rule, a shift that could redefine the airport screening experience and the nature of air travel itself.

Where Did the Liquid Rule Come From?

The infamous liquid ban dates back to 2006, when British intelligence uncovered a plot to detonate liquid explosives on transatlantic flights. The threat prompted global panic, and within days, authorities worldwide began restricting liquids on planes. The TSA responded by banning all liquids from carry-on bags, only to later revise the policy to allow containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less, all fitting within a single quart-sized clear bag.

AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_j72adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_1372adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe

This specific volume wasn’t arbitrary. Homeland security and explosives experts concluded that while even small quantities of certain chemicals could be dangerous, 3.4 ounces was below the threshold needed to cause catastrophic damage to an aircraft when used alone. It became a compromise between safety and convenience, and a fixture of modern travel.

CT Technology Changes the Game

Now, advanced CT scanners are poised to make that rule obsolete. Unlike traditional X-ray machines, these devices generate 3D, rotatable images of the contents of your bag. That means TSA officers can virtually “unwrap” and inspect containers without opening them, allowing them to detect threats, including explosives and chemical compositions, with far more accuracy and speed.

These machines are already in use at a growing number of U.S. airports, including Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, and Los Angeles International.

As the rollout expands, the agency expects to ease or eliminate the liquid restrictions altogether. Gate Access has had the privilege to observe this tech in action, and the rollout seems to be moving faster than previously expected.

Secretary Noem Questions the Rules

Even as the technology evolves, policymakers are beginning to revisit the rationale behind the original restrictions. In a recent interview hosted by The Hill, Secretary Kristi Noem voiced skepticism about the continued necessity of such specific volume limits.

AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_n72adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_1772adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe

“The liquids, I'm questioning?” she shares. “That may be the next big announcement, what size your liquids need to be.”

Noem's comments echo a growing sentiment among lawmakers and the public alike: that TSA regulations should evolve in tandem with the tools used to enforce them. While her remarks have sparked debate, they also highlight a crucial point: policies developed under emergency conditions nearly 20 years ago may no longer accurately reflect the reality of today’s aviation landscape.

TSA Under Pressure to Modernize

The call to reassess TSA protocols isn’t new, but Secretary Kristi Noem is giving it fresh momentum. Rather than eliminating the agency, Noem is focused on making air travel faster and more efficient. She’s pushing for a vision in which “security should take no more than a minute” to complete, a goal that hinges on the TSA’s adoption of multi-layered screening technology.

This layered approach includes the integration of CT scanners, AI-powered threat detection, behavior analysis, and real-time data sharing across agencies. According to Noem, these enhancements are making it possible to maintain high levels of security without slowing down passengers.

AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_q72adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_1a72adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe

Her comments reflect a broader philosophy: smarter screening, not more screening. Instead of treating every traveler as a potential threat, the TSA is shifting toward a risk-based model that uses advanced tools to clear the majority of passengers more efficiently, freeing up resources to focus on genuine concerns.

What Travelers Should Expect

For now, travelers should remain aware that the 3.4-ounce limit is still in effect at most U.S. airports. However, changes are coming. As more checkpoints are upgraded with CT scanners, some airports have begun quietly relaxing the liquid rule for bags screened with the new systems, allowing some items that are slightly over the limits.

According to the TSA, the eventual goal is a uniform policy allowing larger quantities of liquids and gels, possibly ending the need to remove them from bags altogether, which is currently not broadly enforced.

If you’re flying soon, it’s worth checking the TSA’s official site or your departure airport’s policies to see whether the new scanners are in use at your terminal. You may be pleasantly surprised to find a smoother, less restrictive experience at the security line.

What It Means for the Future of Air Travel

The potential end of the liquid ban marks more than just the return of full-size shampoo bottles to carry-ons. It’s an economic shift as well—eliminating the need for travelers to constantly purchase travel-size toiletries, a market valued in the billions. By removing this constraint, the TSA is signaling its willingness to adapt, trust its evolving technology, and reevaluate outdated policies that have long inconvenienced the public.

AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_un2adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#_R_1en2adkalhb5fiv5vddbH1_ iframe

For families, it could mean packing once and packing smarter. For business travelers, fewer delays and simplified routines. And for the broader public, a more rational, efficient security system that balances real safety with day-to-day practicality.

While it may have taken nearly 20 years, the dawn of a new era in airport screening is finally in sight, and for both travelers and their wallets, it couldn’t come soon enough.

Yahoo CreatorCaleb Harmon-MarshallCreator of Gate AccessTravel writer, creator, and flight rights advocate dedicated to empowering travelers with the knowledge they need to navigate travel challenges confidently and make informed decisions.Follow

---

Gate Access