Evita Duffy-Alfonso, the daughter of US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, launched a public demand on Thursday, December 19, for the complete abolition of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Her call to action came after what she described as poor treatment and an "absurdly invasive" security screening at an airport.
A Harrowing Experience at Airport Security
In a post on the social media platform X, Duffy-Alfonso directly tagged President Donald Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. She argued that the TSA's practices are unconstitutional. "TSA = unreasonable, warrantless searches of passengers and their property. That means it violates the Fourth Amendment and is therefore unconstitutional. Pls abolish," she wrote.
She elaborated on the incident in a follow-up post, detailing how her pregnancy led to a difficult encounter. Duffy-Alfonso chose to opt out of the full-body scanner due to concerns about radiation exposure while pregnant. This decision resulted in a 15-minute wait for a manual pat-down, which nearly caused her to miss her flight.
"The agents were passive-aggressive, rude, and tried to pressure me and another pregnant woman into just walking through the scanner because it’s ‘safe,’" she claimed. After finally undergoing the pat-down, which she found excessively invasive, she barely made it to her flight. She concluded sharply, "The ‘golden age of transportation’ cannot begin until the TSA is gone."
Balancing Security with Passenger Rights
Despite her strong criticism of the TSA, Duffy-Alfonso was careful to clarify her stance on broader national security. She expressed full support for the administration's border security measures. "To be clear, I am 100% behind all that @POTUS & @DHS has done to keep out terrorists and illegals, especially at the border," she stated.
She praised President Trump and Secretary Noem for what she called achieving "zero illegal border crossings" and stopping terrorists. However, she stressed the need for a more sensible approach within the country's airports. "But there needs to be more common sense around how we treat Americans exercising their right to travel," she argued.
She specifically called for better treatment of expectant mothers who wish to avoid body scanners to protect their unborn children. "We can do both," she asserted, emphasizing that strong border security and respectful domestic travel screening should coexist.
Know Your Rights: The Legal Opt-Out Option
This incident highlights a crucial passenger right that many travelers are unaware of. The TSA explicitly allows passengers to opt out of the full-body scanning technology. Individuals with medical, personal, or privacy concerns can request an alternative screening method, which is a manual pat-down.
According to official TSA guidance, a pat-down can include inspection of the head, neck, arms, torso, legs, and feet, including sensitive areas. The agency states, "The officer will advise you of the procedure to help you anticipate any actions before you feel them."
Passengers also have additional rights during this process:
- They can request a private screening.
- They can ask for a chair if they have mobility issues.
- They can ask for a pat-down to be performed by an officer of the same sex.
Duffy-Alfonso's public critique has reignited the debate over the balance between stringent security protocols and the privacy and dignity of ordinary American travelers, particularly those in vulnerable situations like pregnancy.
