Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s daughter calls TSA ‘unconstitutional’ after pat-down
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks during a news conference at the Department of Transportation in Washington, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. Photo by Mark Schiefelbein /APArticle contentOne of U.S.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s daughters said she experienced an “absurdly invasive” pat-down Thursday at an airport security checkpoint and suggested her father would limit or eliminate the Transportation Security Administration if it was under his authority.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentEvita Duffy-Alfonso said on the social platform X that she nearly missed her flight after opting out of a body scan because she said she is pregnant and concerned about radiation exposure. She said she waited 15 minutes for a pat-down and that TSA agents were “rude” and “tried to pressure” her into walking through the scanner.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle content“All this for an unconstitutional agency that isn’t even good at its job,” she said.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentTSA said in a statement Friday it is aware of Duffy-Alfonso’s complaint.Article content“TSA takes complaints about airport security screening procedures seriously and investigates complaints thoroughly to ensure the correct procedures are applied,” the agency said.Article contentIn another post, Duffy-Alfonso said her father would “radically limit” or “lobby Congress to abolish” TSA if it was under his control.Article contentDuffy’s Department of Transportation controls the Federal Aviation Administration and is charged with setting and enforcing safety regulations for all major modes of transportation, including air travel. But TSA is part of the Department of Homeland Security.Article contentTSA is responsible for screening passengers, bags and cargo for weapons or explosives. It was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.Article content“The ‘golden age of transportation’ cannot begin until the TSA is gone,” Duffy-Alfonso said, a reference to her father’s broad campaign to make travel more family friendly and revive what he calls “the golden age of travel,” including a recent push encouraging passengers to dress more formally while flying.Article contentArticle contentThe Transportation Department declined Friday to comment on Duffy-Alfonso’s complaints about TSA.Article contentIn a follow-up post on X, Duffy-Alfonso clarified that she supports President Donald Trump and Homeland Security, “but there needs to be more common sense around how we treat Americans exercising their right to travel,” she said.Article contentAccording to TSA, passengers can request a private screening as an alternative to the body scanner. The agency warns on its website that “sufficient pressure must be applied in order to ensure detection” because a “pat-down screening is conducted to determine whether prohibited items are concealed under clothing.”Article contentTrending Opinion: The no-more-pipelines MOU FP Comment Posthaste: 2026 might prove perilous for Canadians who piled into variable mortgages this year, Desjardins warns News Tax Court overturns CRA decision to deny bitcoin loss writeoff Taxes When sinking property values raise red flags for borrowers Mortgages Mortgage rates move — but in the wrong direction Mortgage Rates Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Opinion: The no-more-pipelines MOU FP Comment Posthaste: 2026 might prove perilous for Canadians who piled into variable mortgages this year, Desjardins warns News Tax Court overturns CRA decision to deny bitcoin loss writeoff Taxes When sinking property values raise red flags for borrowers Mortgages Mortgage rates move — but in the wrong direction Mortgage Rates