Sen. Duckworth Demands TSA Reinstate Shoes-Off Airport Security Policy

The Illinois senator says the policy change by former DHS Secretary Noem created a security vulnerability.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 4:22am

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A quiet, cinematic painting of an empty airport security checkpoint with a single pair of shoes on the conveyor belt, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows.The debate over airport security policies continues, as lawmakers demand the TSA address vulnerabilities created by recent policy changes.Washington Today

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is calling on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to immediately reinstate its controversial policy requiring travelers to remove their shoes before going through airport security checkpoints. Duckworth says former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's decision last summer to end the 'shoes-off' policy was a 'reckless act' that may put travelers at risk, citing a classified watchdog report that found TSA scanners cannot effectively screen shoes.

Why it matters

The shoes-off policy was implemented in 2006 as an additional security measure following the failed 'shoe bomber' plot. Duckworth argues that Noem's decision to end the policy, despite a watchdog report flagging it as a security vulnerability, reflects a 'willingness to gamble the American people's security' for political gain.

The details

Duckworth wrote a letter to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill demanding the agency reverse Noem's policy change, which she says violates federal law by failing to outline corrective actions within the legally required 90-day deadline after receiving the watchdog's report. The senator accused Noem, who was recently removed by President Trump, of prioritizing politics over security in an 'unsuccessful attempt to boost her popularity'.

  • In July 2025, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ended the TSA's 'shoes-off' airport security policy.
  • In early 2026, a classified watchdog report found that TSA scanners cannot effectively screen passengers' shoes.

The players

Sen. Tammy Duckworth

A Democratic senator from Illinois who is demanding the TSA reinstate its controversial 'shoes-off' airport security policy.

Kristi Noem

The former Department of Homeland Security Secretary who ended the TSA's 'shoes-off' policy in July 2025, a decision Duckworth calls a 'reckless act'.

Ha Nguyen McNeill

The Acting Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.

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What they’re saying

“Secretary Noem's decision to implement a shoes on policy on July 8, 2025, likely without meaningful consultation with TSA, was a reckless act.”

— Sen. Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senator

“Allowing a potentially catastrophic security deficiency to remain in place for seven months and counting betrays TSA's mission.”

— Sen. Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senator

What’s next

Duckworth says the TSA has missed a legally required 90-day deadline to outline corrective actions after receiving the watchdog's report on the security vulnerability created by Noem's policy change. The senator is demanding the agency immediately reverse the policy.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing tensions between political priorities and national security concerns, with Duckworth accusing the former DHS secretary of gambling with passenger safety for political gain. It raises questions about the TSA's responsiveness to security vulnerabilities and the need for robust oversight of airport security policies.