Duckworth demands TSA reverse “shoes-on” rule, says scanners can’t detect threats — warns of airport security vulnerability
Sen. Tammy Duckworth is pressing the TSA to immediately rescind the July 8, 2025 “shoes-on” policy, citing a classified DHS OIG red-team finding that Advanced Imaging Technology scanners cannot reliably detect threats concealed in footwear, creating an urgent security risk.
- Immediate rollback demanded: Duckworth urged Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill to reverse Kristi Noem’s July 8, 2025 decision — per Passenger Terminal Today.
- Classified OIG finding: A DHS Office of Inspector General red-team test reportedly found TSA scanners “can’t scan shoes” effectively — reported by CBS News and Passenger Terminal Today.
- Procedural lapse alleged: Duckworth says the OIG issued a rare “Seven-Day Letter” and that DHS missed the legally required 90-day response window — coverage at Fox News, CBS News, and Passenger Terminal Today.
What Duckworth wrote and why she acted
As the ranking member of a Senate subcommittee overseeing homeland security issues, Sen. Tammy Duckworth called the change to a shoes-on posture a “reckless act” that “inadvertently created a new security vulnerability.” Her letter to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill asserts the July 8, 2025 decision was likely made without meaningful TSA consultation and amounted to a “stunning failure of leadership.” (Sources: Passenger Terminal Today, CBS News.)
OIG red-team test: what it found
Duckworth cites a classified DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) covert test — often described as a red-team exercise — that reportedly concluded TSA’s Advanced Imaging Technology scanners could not reliably detect contraband hidden in footwear. The OIG allegedly used a Seven-Day Letter to notify leadership of the urgent shortfall; Duckworth says no corrective plan was produced within the 90-day requirement. (Sources: CBS News, Passenger Terminal Today.)
History and context: why the shoes-off rule existed
The original shoes-off requirement dates to 2001 after Richard Reid attempted to detonate explosives concealed in his shoes aboard an international flight. The rule ensured footwear passed through X-ray screening to guard against similar concealments. Duckworth warns that permitting shoes-on without proven scanner performance reintroduces the risk the shoes-off policy intended to remove. (Sources: Passenger Terminal Today, CBS News.)
Noem’s stated reasons and the pushback
When then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced the shoes-on change on July 8, 2025, she framed it as a measure to reduce wait times and improve efficiency. Critics countered that the decision prioritized convenience and optics over adequate testing and verification. Duckworth’s letter accuses Noem’s change of favoring politics at the expense of safety; Noem has since been removed from DHS leadership and replaced by Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and Duckworth urges the current DHS and acting TSA leadership to correct course. (Source: Fox News, Passenger Terminal Today.)
What the watchdog found — and what remains classified
News reports indicate the OIG’s findings are classified; CBS News summarized that the inspector general concluded TSA scanners could not effectively screen shoes and that the OIG delivered an urgent Seven-Day Letter to DHS leadership. Duckworth calls the failure to act on that classified warning “outrageous, unacceptable and dangerous to the flying public.”
Legal and procedural questions
Duckworth contends missing the 90-day deadline to outline corrective steps may have violated federal law, OMB guidance, and DHS directives that require timely responses to OIG findings. Her letter asks Acting Administrator McNeill to withdraw the shoes-on policy immediately and to provide a timeline for corrective measures. (Sources: Passenger Terminal Today, Fox News, CBS News.)
Agency responses and public records
As of reporting, public news accounts do not include formal TSA or DHS responses addressing Duckworth’s letter or the classified OIG findings. Journalists note this is the first direct lawmaker call to rescind the shoes-on rule after the classified audit was revealed. (Sources: CBS News, Passenger Terminal Today, Fox News.)
Local reporting and reactions
Midwest outlets covered Duckworth’s demand, with video segments from NBC Chicago and WGN News summarizing the senator’s concerns and the OIG findings. Those segments reflect growing public interest about how screening policy changes are implemented and tested.
Implications for Las Vegas, Nevada
Economic impact
Las Vegas is a major air travel hub; a return to shoes-off screening could lengthen security lines at Harry Reid International (McCarran), especially during conventions and peak travel seasons. Longer waits may reduce visitor spending, increase staffing needs, and impose short-term costs on airports, airlines and ground operators. (Context: CBS News, Passenger Terminal Today.)
Political consequences
Local elected officials in Nevada may face pressure to respond to security and economic concerns. If OIG findings are validated and corrective action remains delayed, Nevada leaders could pursue congressional oversight or request additional federal resources to safeguard airport operations.
Social effects
Reinstating shoes-off procedures would disproportionately affect families, older travelers, and people with disabilities. Local advocacy groups will likely press for clear communication and reasonable accommodations; travelers should prepare for potential changes at checkpoints.
Cultural relevance and practical tips
Las Vegas’ travel culture prizes speed and convenience. Any move toward slower, more intrusive screening will spark debate between business interests seeking efficiency and public safety advocates prioritizing risk mitigation.
Practical advice: wear shoes that are easy to remove, allow extra time at the airport, and check official TSA updates before travel.
Sources and further reading
- Passenger Terminal Today: Senator calls for return to shoes-off policy at TSA checkpoints citing security vulnerability
- CBS News: Senate Democrat demands TSA lift ‘shoes-on’ policy over safety risk
- Fox News: Dem lawmaker calls on TSA to bring back shoes-off airport security policy
- NBC Chicago (video): local coverage of Duckworth’s demand
- WGN News (video): local coverage of Duckworth’s demand
“The failure to act on an urgent, classified finding is outrageous, unacceptable and dangerous to the flying public,” — Senator Tammy Duckworth (as cited in news reports).
