Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is demanding that the Transportation Security Administration reinstate its shoes-off policy for airport security checkpoints, citing concerns over a classified watchdog report that found TSA scanners cannot effectively screen shoes.
Duckworth sent a letter to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill calling on the agency to immediately reverse the policy change implemented by former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem last summer. The senator argued the decision created a security vulnerability and may violate federal law.
What the Right Is Saying
When Noem announced the policy change last summer, she emphasized that it would improve the passenger experience while maintaining security. The Trump administration cited advances in technology as a reason for ending the shoes-off requirement.
"We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience," Noem said at the time. "As always, security remains our top priority. Thanks to our cutting-edge technological advancements and multi-layered security approach, we are confident that we can implement this change while maintaining the highest security standards."
The administration argued that modern TSA screening technology made the shoes-off policy obsolete. The Department of Homeland Security maintained that its multi-layered security approach, including advanced scanner technology, provided adequate protection despite no longer requiring passengers to remove their shoes.
What the Left Is Saying
Duckworth called Noem's decision to end the shoes-off requirement on July 8, 2025, a 'reckless act' that put travelers at risk. The senator said the inspector general flagged the screening issue as urgent to Noem but that no corrective action was taken.
"Allowing a potentially catastrophic security deficiency to remain in place for seven months and counting betrays TSA's mission," Duckworth wrote. "At a minimum, TSA's failure to swiftly implement corrective action warrants the immediate withdrawal of Secretary Noem's reckless and dangerous policy that increases the risk of a terrorist smuggling a dangerous item onto a flight."
Duckworth accused Noem, who was removed by President Donald Trump last month and replaced by current DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, of prioritizing politics over security. The senator wrote that Noem's policy change reflected a 'willingness to gamble the American people's security' in what she called a 'stunning failure of leadership.'
The senator also argued that TSA's lack of response may violate federal law, noting the agency missed a legally required 90-day deadline to outline corrective actions after receiving the watchdog's report. "Such inaction violates Federal law, Office of Management and Budget guidance and DHS's own directives," Duckworth wrote.
What the Numbers Show
The shoes-off policy was originally implemented in 2006, making it a nearly 20-year-old security measure. The policy was ended by Noem on July 8, 2025, meaning the change has been in effect for approximately seven months as of early April 2026.
According to the inspector general's classified report, TSA scanners cannot effectively screen shoes, creating what Duckworth described as a 'new security vulnerability in the system.' The watchdog report was flagged as urgent, and federal law requires agencies to outline corrective actions within 90 days of receiving such reports.
Noem was removed by President Trump in March 2026 and replaced by Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary. The policy change was one of several security modifications made during the Trump administration's first year.
The Bottom Line
The debate over airport security screening procedures highlights the tension between passenger convenience and security measures. Duckworth's letter puts pressure on Acting TSA Administrator McNeill to reverse the policy, arguing that the watchdog report findings and missed deadlines create legal and operational concerns.
The Trump administration has maintained that modern technology allows for effective screening without requiring shoes to be removed. However, the inspector general's findings appear to contradict this assertion, setting up a potential oversight battle in Congress. What to watch: whether TSA reverses the policy, and if not, what congressional action may follow.