Evita Duffy-Alfonso, daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, publicly condemned the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) following what she described as an “absurdly invasive” pat-down at an airport checkpoint on Thursday. Her statements, posted on X (formerly Twitter), suggest deep dissatisfaction with the agency’s practices and a call for its abolition.
Incident Details
According to Duffy-Alfonso, who stated she is pregnant, she declined to use a body scanner and subsequently waited 15 minutes for a physical pat-down. She described the TSA agents as “passive-aggressive,” alleging they pressured her to use the scanner despite her concerns about safety during pregnancy.
“All this for an unconstitutional agency that isn’t even good at its job,” she wrote. “The ‘golden age of transportation’ cannot begin until the TSA is gone.”
Constitutional Concerns
Duffy-Alfonso has previously voiced criticism of the TSA, arguing that its existence violates the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. She reiterated this view in her latest posts, stating she should not be treated “like a terrorist” for domestic travel given the agency’s alleged ineffectiveness.
Political Context
Notably, Secretary Duffy oversees federal transportation projects and safety regulations but does not directly control the TSA. The agency falls under the Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem. Duffy has publicly promoted a “golden age of travel,” although his vision reportedly focuses on superficial aspects like passenger attire rather than systemic changes to security procedures.
This incident highlights ongoing debate over the TSA’s effectiveness and constitutionality, especially regarding privacy concerns and the intrusiveness of security measures. The fact that the criticism comes from the daughter of a high-ranking transportation official underscores the agency’s controversial reputation, even among those with connections to the system it oversees.
The situation raises questions about whether reforms are needed to balance security with individual rights, or if more radical measures, such as abolishing the TSA, could be considered.
