Democratic Senator Calls for Reversal of TSA 'Shoes On' Policy

Lawmaker claims policy poses safety risks, despite progress made under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:24pm

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Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is demanding that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reverse its decision to allow passengers to keep their shoes on while going through airport security screenings. Duckworth argues that the policy, implemented nine months ago, poses safety risks and should be withdrawn immediately.

Why it matters

The 'shoes on' policy was a significant change from the previous requirement for passengers to remove their shoes, which was implemented after the failed shoe bomb attempt by Richard Reid in 2001. Duckworth's call to reverse the policy has sparked debate over balancing passenger convenience and security concerns.

The details

In a statement, Duckworth claimed that some screening machines cannot detect threats hidden inside footwear, like the ones worn by Richard Reid. She argued that the TSA's 'failure to swiftly implement corrective action warrants the immediate withdrawal' of the policy implemented under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

  • The 'shoes on' policy was implemented 9 months ago at U.S. airports.
  • The failed shoe bomb attempt by Richard Reid occurred in 2001.

The players

Sen. Tammy Duckworth

A Democratic senator from Illinois who is calling for the reversal of the TSA's 'shoes on' policy, citing safety concerns.

Kristi Noem

The former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who implemented the 'shoes on' policy during her tenure.

Richard Reid

An Al-Qaeda member who attempted to ignite explosives hidden in his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami in 2001, leading to the original policy for passengers to remove their shoes at airports.

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What they’re saying

“'At a minimum, TSA's failure to swiftly implement corrective action warrants the immediate withdrawal of Secretary [Kristi] Noem's reckless and dangerous policy that increases the risk of a terrorist smuggling a dangerous item onto a flight.'”

— Sen. Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senator

“'I'm going to editorialize on this because I'm very passionate about it, Kevin. Not making us take off our shoes was the greatest achievement of Kristi Noem's tenure at DHS, I'm sorry. It just is. It was — well, that and the border.'”

— Rachel Campos-Duffy, Fox News Host

What’s next

The TSA will likely review Duckworth's concerns and determine whether any changes to the 'shoes on' policy are necessary to maintain passenger safety.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing security measures and passenger convenience at airports, with lawmakers and officials weighing the potential risks and benefits of policies like the 'shoes on' rule.