Sen. Tammy Duckworth Calls for TSA to Reinstate Shoe-Removal Policy

Senator Tammy Duckworth from Illinois is urging the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to bring back a contentious policy that requires travelers to take off their shoes at airport security checkpoints.

Duckworth criticized the TSA’s decision to drop the “shoes-off” requirement, labeling former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s choice last summer to eliminate this policy a “reckless act” that could jeopardize passenger safety.

In a letter addressed to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeil, Duckworth stated, “Noem’s implementation of the shoe-on policy on July 8, 2025, perhaps without proper consultation with TSA, was reckless.” She emphasized that “allowing these potentially catastrophic security gaps to remain for seven months” contradicts TSA’s mission.

She claimed that the TSA’s failure to act promptly justifies reversing what she termed dangerous policies that increase the threat of terrorists smuggling harmful items onto planes.

A report recently revealed that TSA scanners are ineffective at screening shoes, according to CBS News. Duckworth mentioned that the inspector general had informed Noem about the urgent need for action but noted that nothing was done.

She added that the inspector general’s findings indicated that Noem’s policy changes “inadvertently created new security vulnerabilities.” Duckworth further described the lack of corrective measures following these findings as “outrageous, unacceptable, and dangerous” for travelers.

The senator contended that the TSA’s inaction might breach federal law, as the agency failed to meet a 90-day deadline to address the issues outlined in the watchdog report.

“Such inaction violates federal law, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, and DHS’s own directives,” she asserted.

Previously, a rule necessitating passengers to remove their shoes during TSA screenings was enacted in 2006. Duckworth expressed that Noem’s changes demonstrate a “willingness to risk the safety of the American people,” characterizing it as a “stunning failure of leadership.”

“We expect this change to significantly reduce passenger wait times at TSA checkpoints and create a more comfortable and efficient passenger experience,” Noem had stated previously. Although, Duckworth now accuses her of prioritizing political gain over national security.