Senator Tammy Duckworth Demands TSA Restore “Shoes-Off” Screening After Classified Report Flags Airport Security Vulnerability
Senator Tammy Duckworth has formally demanded that the Transportation Security Administration immediately reinstate the traditional shoes-off screening after a classified DHS OIG audit found TSA scanners cannot reliably detect threats hidden in shoes, creating a possible airport security vulnerability.
Key takeaways
- Urgent demand: Duckworth asked Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill to reverse the July 8, 2025 shoes-on policy.
- OIG findings: A classified DHS OIG audit and covert testing concluded Advanced Imaging Technology scanners “cannot effectively screen shoes.”
- Legal concerns: The senator says DHS missed a required 90-day deadline to outline corrective actions after the inspector general’s report.
- Local impact: Reinstating shoes-off may slow checkpoints but could restore passenger confidence, with implications for the Inland Empire economy.
Overview: Duckworth’s demand and the classified report
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) sent a formal letter to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill requesting that the Transportation Security Administration reverse the July 8, 2025 decision that allowed travelers to keep shoes on during security screening. The letter cites a classified Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit that concluded TSA’s Advanced Imaging Technology scanners “cannot effectively screen shoes,” creating an actionable security vulnerability.
Duckworth described the failure to act as “outrageous, unacceptable and dangerous to the flying public.” The senator said the vulnerability was left unaddressed for months and accused DHS leadership of ignoring the inspector general’s urgent warnings.
Background: why shoes mattered
The long-standing shoes-off rule dates to the 2001 attempt by Richard Reid (the “shoe bomber”), who tried to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes aboard a transatlantic flight. That incident prompted decades of strict shoe screening at airport checkpoints.
On July 8, 2025, then-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a policy shift permitting travelers to keep shoes on during screening, citing goals of shortening lines and improving passenger comfort. The shoes-on policy remained in place for months even after the OIG audit flagged problems.
Evidence from the OIG audit
Reporting based on the classified OIG audit indicates covert “red team” testing found the Advanced Imaging Technology scanners were unable to detect threat items hidden in footwear. The OIG labeled the issue urgent and issued a rare Seven-Day Letter to DHS leadership, warning the policy “inadvertently created a new security vulnerability.”
“Allowing the vulnerability to remain unaddressed for seven months betrays TSA’s mission,” Duckworth wrote, according to reporting obtained by CBS News.
Duckworth’s letter — reported exclusively by CBS News — says the inspector general’s urgent warning was not followed by prompt corrective action.
Legal and oversight concerns
Duckworth, the ranking member on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee, argued that TSA’s inaction may have violated federal law and Office of Management and Budget guidance by missing the 90-day deadline to outline remediation steps after receiving an inspector general report. She called Noem’s policy change a “stunning failure of leadership” and accused DHS leadership of ignoring the OIG’s findings.
The senator demanded the immediate withdrawal of the shoes-on policy and a swift implementation of corrective measures to close the identified gap.
Timeline and reactions
- 2001: Shoe bomber incident prompts shoes-off rule.
- July 8, 2025: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem implements shoes-on policy to speed screening (Fox News).
- Post-2025: OIG covert testing and a Seven-Day Letter report an urgent vulnerability while the shoes-on policy remains.
- March 2026: Noem removed from DHS; Markwayne Mullin appointed secretary.
- April 2026: Duckworth’s demand becomes public through news reports and local TV coverage (NBC Chicago video, WGN coverage).
What the debate means for travelers
Supporters of the shoes-on policy argued it would reduce lines and improve passenger comfort. The OIG findings, however, suggest a trade-off: speed at the possible cost of detection capability. Duckworth’s intervention raises the likelihood of heightened congressional scrutiny and could force a reversal if TSA or DHS determine scanners cannot meet screening standards without shoes removal.
Practical advice: Travelers should monitor updates from TSA and regional airports and allow extra time at checkpoints if a shoes-off rule is reinstated.
Implications for the Inland Empire
Economic impact: The Inland Empire’s travel and logistics-dependent economy could face longer checkpoint processing times if shoes-off is restored, affecting business and leisure travel schedules. Conversely, restoring shoe removal screening could improve passenger confidence and sustain travel demand.
Political and social effects: Local officials may seek briefings from TSA at regional airports such as Ontario. Older travelers, families with children, and people with mobility concerns may find footwear removal inconvenient; local leaders will likely press for accommodations and clear communication.
Businesses that rely on air travel should consider contingency scheduling and clear client guidance if checkpoint procedures change.
Sources and further reading
- CBS News: Senate Democrat demands TSA lift shoes-on policy after watchdog report.
- Passenger Terminal Today: Senator calls for return to shoes-off policy at TSA checkpoints citing security vulnerability.
- Fox News: Dem lawmaker calls on TSA to bring back shoes-off airport security policy.
- NBC Chicago video: Duckworth demand coverage (YouTube).
- WGN News video: Letter coverage (YouTube).
This article will be updated as TSA, DHS, or other officials respond and as additional documents from the Office of Inspector General become public.
