WASHINGTON — A classified Department of Homeland Security report has concluded that Secretary Kristi Noem’s decision to allow airline passengers to keep their shoes on during security screening created serious vulnerabilities in airport security, according to officials briefed on the matter.
Key Security Concern
The DHS inspector general found that many Transportation Security Administration full-body scanners — the machines most travelers pass through — were not capable of effectively scanning shoes. That shortcoming meant potential threats hidden in footwear could go undetected under the new policy, which applies to all passengers, not only those approved for TSA PreCheck. The policy, announced by Noem in July 2025 and promoted as an efficiency improvement, applies to all passengers.
The classified November report flagged the gap as a significant risk, but Noem’s office reportedly elevated the document’s classification and blocked its release. Lawmakers say this blocked broader congressional awareness of a serious aviation security issue.
Delayed Fixes and Political Fallout
The inspector general’s office first raised concerns with DHS in August 2025 and followed up in December, reminding officials they were legally required to address the issue by late January. As of mid-February, the watchdog reported that no corrective plan had been developed.
That inaction has drawn bipartisan criticism. Some lawmakers are pressing for greater oversight of DHS and demanding answers about how and why the vulnerability went unaddressed.
Noem’s office disputes the inspector general’s claims, saying DHS has addressed the recommendations and stands by the department’s overall security posture. Yet the shoes-on policy remains in effect despite long-standing aviation rules that required travelers to remove footwear after the 2001 shoe-bombing attempt by Richard Reid, who almost detonated plastic explosives hidden in his shoes aboard American Airlines Flight 63. The incident, which occurred months after 9/11, prompted worldwide airport security changes.
Broader Controversies
The report adds to a series of controversies surrounding Noem’s tenure. In 2025, she drew bipartisan ire for airing a politically charged video blaming congressional Democrats for TSA and airport issues during a government shutdown — a move that sparked Hatch Act complaints and pushback from multiple airports that refused to show it.
DHS has also faced fallout from internal disputes and other personnel decisions, raising questions about the department’s focus and leadership.
White House Support and Next Steps
Despite criticism, the White House has continued to support Noem, saying national security under her leadership remains strong. Still, some lawmakers are pushing for further investigation of the airport security lapse and a review of how classified findings are handled at DHS going forward.
At the same time, Capitol Hill continues to review the report, and officials weigh legislative responses.
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Why can’t we screen like Israel does…? Go after the likely terrorists and stop hassling the citizens? Oh I forgot virtue signaling is more important than common sense and safety!
They just can’t stand it when we don’t comply with the overlords.