DOT Secretary's daughter rants after 15-minute TSA checkpoint wait

DOT Secretary's daughter rants after 15-minute TSA checkpoint wait

Zach Wichter, USA TODAY

Fri, December 19, 2025 at 4:15 PM UTC

4 min read

There are many rules when you set foot in an airport, but not all apply to you.

Presenting a REAL ID document? Yes, you do have to do that or face a $45 fee. Shoes off during security screening? No, that's no longer a thing.

But when it comes to airport security technology, passengers have more choice than many realize, a point that recently ignited debate online.

In a Thursday, Dec. 18 post on X, the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Evita Duffy-Alfonso, said she was forced to wait for a pat-down after opting out of a full-body scanner when going through the Transportation Security Administration's checkpoint because she is pregnant.

“I nearly missed my flight this morning after the TSA made me wait 15 minutes for a pat-down,” she wrote. "After finally getting the absurdly invasive pat-down, I barely made my flight. All this for an unconstitutional agency that isn’t even good at its job."

Duffy-Alfonso went on to accuse TSA workers of trying to "pressure me and another pregnant woman into just walking through the scanner because it’s 'safe.'"

Her post has renewed attention to a little-known but legal option: Travelers can opt out of TSA's body-scanning technology and request an alternative screening instead.

Family members of Sean Duffy, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be transportation secretary as he testifies during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 15, 2025.

TSA urges travelers to avoid two tempting airport freebies

TSA says passengers whose boarding passes indicate enhanced screening may still be required to undergo scanning in “a very limited number of circumstances,” 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 for avoiding scanning technology at airport security, here’s what to know about requesting alternative screening — and how to prepare for the process.

Can I deny a face scan at the airport security screening?

Yes, participation is voluntary. You'll need to (politely) tell the TSA officer you don't want to participate, and they should use the standard ID verification process. You shouldn't lose your place in line.

If you do opt for the biometric scan, TSA says your photo and personal data are deleted after your identity is verified.

"TSA is using facial comparison technology at the airport to improve and automate identity verification of passengers, not for law enforcement or immigration enforcement purposes. Additionally, TSA does not tolerate racial profiling," the agency states.

Can I opt out of the full-body scanner during TSA screening?

Yes, it is legal to deny the scan. You'll need to (again, politely) tell the agent you are "opting out" of the scan with as much notice as you can. The agent may initially notify you that the scanner it is a safe tool, to see if you will reconsider, or they could immediately conduct a manual search – collquially known as a "pat down."

"A pat-down may include inspection of the head, neck, arms, torso, legs, and feet. This includes head coverings and sensitive areas such as breasts, groin, and the buttocks. You may be required to adjust clothing during the pat-down," TSA states on its website. "The officer will advise you of the procedure to help you anticipate any actions before you feel them. Pat-downs require sufficient pressure to ensure detection, and areas may undergo a pat-down more than once for the TSA officer to confirm no threat items are detected."

A traveler in a full-body scan before heading to her flight at Pittsburgh International Airport, on Nov. 24, 2010.

Passengers with disabilities and/or mobility issues can also request to pass through the metal detector or undergo a pat-down.

It's important to note that a pat-down should be done by an officer "of the same sex." You may have to wait until an appropriate officer can assist you if no one is immediately available.

You should let the officer performing the pat down know about any mobility issues, difficulty staying in the same position for an extended period, if you have an external medical device or whether you have any areas of your body that are painful when touched.

You can request a chair to sit in if needed, as well as a private screening. If you do opt for a private screening, a second officer should be present.

Contributing: Josh Rivera, USA TODAY

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TSA opt-out debate reignited by Sean Duffy's pregnant daughter

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