Senator Duckworth urges TSA to bring back “shoes-off” rule after DHS watchdog finds scanner gaps
Sen. Tammy Duckworth urged the TSA to reinstate the shoes-off airport security policy after a classified DHS OIG red-team report found current imaging scanners cannot reliably screen footwear, raising concerns that explosives or contraband could pass through checkpoints.
- Immediate demand: Duckworth sent a letter calling for reversal of the shoes-on policy; reporting cited CBS News and Passenger Terminal Today.
- OIG red-team finding: A classified DHS OIG test concluded Advanced Imaging Technology scanners “can’t scan shoes,” and the OIG issued an urgent Seven-Day Letter that reportedly prompted no corrective action (CBS News).
- Legal questions: Duckworth says agencies missed a 90-day corrective-action deadline and called the July 8, 2025 policy change a “reckless act” that betrayed TSA’s mission (Passenger Terminal Today; Fox News).
Why Duckworth is pushing to reverse the policy
In a letter to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, Duckworth — the ranking member of a Commerce, Science and Transportation subcommittee — warned that allowing passengers to keep shoes on creates a new avenue to smuggle explosives or other prohibited items onto aircraft. She emphasized that the DHS OIG’s covert testing showed scanners “can’t scan shoes” and that the inspector general flagged the problem as urgent to prior DHS leadership, but that no meaningful action followed (CBS News).
Duckworth framed the July 8, 2025 policy change as taken without adequate consultation with TSA technical staff. She called the decision “a reckless act” that increased the risk of a terrorist smuggling a dangerous item onto a flight and said failing to act on OIG findings for months “betrays TSA’s mission” (Passenger Terminal Today; Fox News).
What the DHS OIG testing reportedly found
Reporting indicates the DHS Office of Inspector General conducted red team visits — covert exercises simulating real threats — and concluded that the Advanced Imaging Technology scanners in use are not effective at screening footwear for concealed items. The OIG issued a rare “Seven-Day Letter” to senior DHS officials, an urgent notification typically reserved for high-risk findings requiring rapid corrective action. The letter reportedly described the vulnerability as immediate and serious (CBS News).
Historically, the shoes-off requirement dates to the 2001 attempt by Richard Reid to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes — a threat the previous policy aimed to close. Duckworth and supporters argue reverting to shoes-off would be a simple, proven mitigation while equipment or procedures are adjusted (Passenger Terminal Today).
Legal and procedural questions
Duckworth’s letter raises legal and administrative concerns, arguing that DHS and TSA may have missed required steps under federal law and Office of Management and Budget guidance after receiving the OIG report. She asserts the agency failed to present a corrective action plan within 90 days — a deadline she says was mandated after the watchdog’s urgent notification — and that the delay could amount to a violation of federal oversight requirements (Passenger Terminal Today; Fox News).
How DHS leadership handled the change
The shoes-on policy was announced by then-Secretary Kristi Noem on July 8, 2025 and promoted as a measure to reduce screening times and improve passenger experience. Critics, including Duckworth, say the change appears to have been implemented without meaningful consultation with TSA technical staff and that subsequent OIG testing exposed a critical blind spot.
Since the OIG findings, Noem has been removed from her DHS post and replaced by Secretary Markwayne Mullin, an action tied to broader political developments. Duckworth criticized Noem’s handling as prioritizing politics over safety and labeled it a “stunning failure of leadership.” As of the senator’s letter, reporting notes there had been no public TSA rebuttal or disclosed corrective plan (Fox News; CBS News).
Public safety vs. passenger experience
Supporters of the shoes-on policy argued it would streamline lines and improve travel comfort. Duckworth’s letter stresses convenience cannot outweigh safety: she and other critics cite the 2001 shoe bomber incident and the OIG red-team results as evidence that current scanners do not close that footwear screening gap.
“Restoring the shoes-off rule would be a low-tech, immediate mitigation while TSA works on longer-term fixes to equipment and screening procedures,” proponents say.
Media coverage and follow-up reporting
The story has drawn national coverage. CBS News detailed Duckworth’s letter and the OIG’s Seven-Day Letter; Passenger Terminal Today focused on testing and context; Fox News highlighted legal claims and timing. Local TV coverage includes NBC Chicago video and WGN video.
Implications for the world
- Aviation safety: If scanners worldwide share the same limitation, airports beyond the United States could face similar vulnerabilities, and countries using U.S.-made Advanced Imaging Technology may need to re-evaluate footwear screening procedures (Passenger Terminal Today; CBS News).
- Cross-border coordination: International carriers and authorities monitor U.S. policy closely; divergent approaches could complicate coordination on security standards (Passenger Terminal Today).
- Passenger confidence and flow: Restoring shoes-off could slow lines and require staffing changes but may be necessary to protect public trust and safety in global air travel (Passenger Terminal Today; CBS News).
- Policy transparency and oversight: The episode underscores the importance of protecting independent oversight and requiring clear timelines for corrective action when vulnerabilities are identified (CBS News; Fox News).
Reporting notes and sources
This article draws on reporting from CBS News, Passenger Terminal Today, and Fox News, plus video coverage by NBC Chicago video and WGN video. Key sources include the senator’s letter and reporting about a classified DHS OIG red-team test and a Seven-Day Letter raising urgent concerns about scanner performance.
Readers can consult the original reporting here: CBS News — Passenger Terminal Today — Fox News — NBC Chicago video — WGN video
