Sen. Duckworth demands TSA reverse “shoes-on” policy after watchdog finds scanners miss threats in footwear
Senator Tammy Duckworth urged the TSA to rescind its “shoes-on” checkpoint policy after a classified DHS OIG audit found current scanners fail to reliably detect threat items hidden in footwear, creating an ongoing vulnerability to air travel security.
- Immediate call: Duckworth demanded reinstatement of the long-standing shoes-off rule in a letter to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill.
- Watchdog finding: A classified DHS Office of Inspector General audit using covert testing concluded TSA scanners “can’t scan shoes” reliably, raising urgent safety concerns.
- Legal and leadership concerns: Duckworth said DHS missed a required 90‑day corrective-action deadline and labeled the prior policy change a “reckless act.”
- Local impact: Redding and other regional airports could see longer lines if shoes-off returns, but reinstatement may reduce a serious security risk.
Background: why shoes-off mattered
The requirement that travelers remove shoes at security checkpoints dates to the 2001 Richard Reid attempt to detonate explosives hidden in footwear. That incident prompted widespread adoption of shoe removal as a layer of defense to keep explosives and other concealed threats out of aircraft cabins.
Policy change and the classified audit
DHS under Secretary Kristi Noem ended the shoes-off rule on July 8, 2025, citing improved checkpoint flow and shorter wait times. Senator Duckworth says the decision likely happened without meaningful TSA consultation and has introduced new risk.
A classified DHS Office of Inspector General audit — first reported publicly by CBS News — used covert “red team” testing and found the Advanced Imaging Technology scanners deployed at checkpoints cannot reliably detect items hidden in shoes. The OIG issued a rare urgent “Seven‑Day Letter” to DHS leadership urging immediate corrective action.
Duckworth’s charge: reckless leadership and legal questions
In her letter to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, Duckworth called the removal of shoes-off a “reckless act” and a “stunning failure of leadership” that prioritized convenience over safety. She said DHS issued a rare Seven‑Day Letter to then‑Secretary Noem but received no corrective action.
Duckworth wrote the agency’s response (or lack of one) was “outrageous, unacceptable and dangerous to the flying public.”
Legal concerns: Duckworth says DHS missed a legally required 90‑day deadline to outline fixes after receiving the OIG report — a lapse that could violate federal law, Office of Management and Budget guidance, and DHS directives.
What the watchdog said
The classified OIG audit employed covert testing to simulate real-world attempts to carry threat items through checkpoints. The report concluded the scanners in regular use are not capable of reliably detecting items placed inside footwear. The OIG’s urgent notice underscores the seriousness of those findings, according to reporting.
Key initial reporting came from CBS News, with additional coverage and analysis by Passenger Terminal Today and Fox News.
Timeline and media coverage
Reports of Duckworth’s demand and the OIG findings surfaced across outlets in early April 2026. Local broadcasts including NBC Chicago (video) and WGN News (video) ran segments highlighting the alleged security gap. As of the latest reporting, the TSA and current DHS leadership had not publicly responded to Duckworth’s letter.
Implications for Redding, California
Economic impact: Many Redding residents rely on regional air service for business, tourism and medical travel. Reinstating shoes-off could lengthen lines at smaller terminals like Redding Municipal Airport and increase operational costs, but it could also avert a damaging security incident that would harm tourism and business confidence.
Political and social effects: In a conservative-leaning region, the claimed failure to act on OIG findings may be seen as a leadership failure requiring accountability. Families and frequent flyers will weigh convenience against perceived safety — a tradeoff likely to shape local debate.
Practical advice: Redding-area travelers should consider packing shoes that are easy to remove, allow extra time at the airport, and monitor announcements from TSA and Redding Municipal Airport for changes to checkpoint procedures.
Reporting and accountability going forward
This is the first prominent public demand from a lawmaker to reverse the shoes-on policy since the change last summer. Duckworth’s letter raises questions about whether DHS followed legal requirements and whether TSA was given adequate opportunity to perform its screening mission. Any Congressional oversight will likely focus on the public record and the classified OIG findings.
Sources and further reading
Reporting compiled from the DHS Office of Inspector General audit and coverage by the outlets listed above.
