DOT Secretary’s daughter rants after 15-minute TSA checkpoint wait
There are many rules when you step into the airport, but not all of them apply to you.
Do you present REAL ID? Yes, you have to do this or you’ll face a $45 fee. Are your shoes taken off during security screening? No, this is no longer the case.
But when it comes to airport security technology, travelers have more options than most people realize; This is a point that has sparked debate online recently.
On a Thursday, Post on X on December 18thEvita Duffy-Alfonso, daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, said she had to be searched after giving up her full-body scanner while passing through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint because she was pregnant.
“I almost missed my flight this morning after TSA made me wait 15 minutes to be checked,” she wrote. “I barely made it to my flight after finally receiving a ridiculously invasive call. All this for an unconstitutional agency that isn’t even good at its job.”
Duffy-Alfonso accused TSA workers of trying to “pressure me and another pregnant woman to go through the scanner because it was ‘safe.'”
His post renewed interest in a little-known but legal option: Travelers can opt out of the TSA’s body-scanning technology and request an alternative scan instead.
Family members of US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, testify during his confirmation hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 15, 2025.
TSA urges travelers to avoid two attractive airport gifts
TSA said passengers whose boarding passes show enhanced screening may be required to be screened in a “very limited number of cases,” but the agency is legally required to honor opt-out requests even if it means additional screening and longer wait times.
If you have a medical, personal or privacy-based reason to avoid screening technology at airport security, here’s what you need to know about requesting alternative screening and how to prepare for the process.
Can I refuse a facial scan at airport security screening?
Yes, participation is optional. You will need to (politely) tell the TSA officer that you do not wish to participate, and they must use the standard ID verification process. You should not lose your place in the queue.
If you choose biometric screening, TSA will request your photo and personal data. deleted after your identity has been verified.
“TSA uses facial comparison technology at the airport to enhance and automate identity verification of travelers, not for law enforcement or immigration enforcement purposes. Additionally, TSA does not tolerate racial profiling,” the agency said. states.
Can I opt out of the full body scanner during TSA screening?
Yes, it is legal to refuse screening. You should tell the agent (again, politely) as far in advance as possible that you are “signing out” of screening. The agent may initially inform you that the browser is a safe tool to see if you’ll reconsider, or they may immediately perform a manual search, colloquially known as a “touch.”
TSA states, “The touch process may include examination of the head, neck, arms, torso, legs, and feet. This includes head coverings and sensitive areas such as the breasts, groin, and buttocks. You may need to adjust your clothing during the touch.” website. “The officer will advise you on the procedure to help you anticipate any action before you feel it. Searches require sufficient pressure to ensure detection, and areas may be searched multiple times for the TSA officer to verify that no threatening elements have been detected.”
A passenger receives a full body scan before boarding his flight at Pittsburgh International Airport on November 24, 2010.
Passengers with disabilities and/or mobility issues may also request to go through a metal detector or be searched.
It is important to note that the search must be conducted by a police officer of the “same sex”. If no one is immediately available, you may have to wait for an appropriate officer to assist you.
If you have mobility problems, difficulty staying in the same position for long periods of time, have an external medical device, or have any part of your body that is sore when touched, you should inform the officer performing the palpation examination.
You can request a private viewing as well as a chair to sit on if necessary. If you opt for private screening, a second officer must be present.
Credit: Josh Rivera, USA TODAY
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and author of the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He lives in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
This article first appeared on USA TODAY: TSA opt-out debate reignited by Sean Duffy’s pregnant daughter
