The daughter of United States Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is calling on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to be abolished, after she had to wait 15 minutes for a pat down, causing her to almost miss a flight.
In this post:
Transportation Secretary’s daughter goes after TSA
Evita Duffy-Alfonso, one of the nine children of Transportation Secretary Duffy, took to Twitter/X to rant about the TSA:
I nearly missed my flight this morning after the TSA made me wait 15 minutes for a pat-down because I’m pregnant and didn’t feel like getting radiation exposure from their body scanner. 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.” 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. Perhaps things would have gone more smoothly if I’d handed over my biometric data to a random private company (CLEAR). Then I could enjoy the special privilege of waiting in a shorter line to be treated like a terrorist in my own country. Is this freedom? Travel, brought to you by George Orwell—and the privilege of convenience based solely on your willingness to surrender biometric data and submit to radiation exposure? The “golden age of transportation” cannot begin until the TSA is gone.
Someone pointed out how her dad is the Transportation Secretary, but she explained he isn’t in charge of the TSA, and if he were, it would be abolished:
He isn’t in charge of TSA. TSA is under DHS, which is run by Kristi Noem. If he did have TSA, he’d radically limit it and lobby Congress to abolish it.
She followed this up by stating how she’s happy that Trump and Noem are keeping out “terrorists and illegals,” and aren’t getting enough credit for that:
To be clear, I am 100% behind all that @POTUS & @DHS has done to keep out terrorists and illegals, especially at the border. In fact, President Trump & @Sec_Noem aren’t getting enough credit for achieving zero illegal border crossings and stopping deranged terrorists from coming into the U.S. But there needs to be more common sense around how we treat Americans exercising their right to travel. And I hope TSA works on improving their treatment of expectant mothers who don’t want to go through body scanners to protect their unborn children. We can do both.
I mean, what can we really make of this feedback?
There’s of course a certain irony to seeing the child of someone in the Trump administration complaining about the TSA, since this is an area where the administration could impact change, if they wanted to.
I’m a little confused about what the core of her complaint is, though, because it seems all over the place. She’s furious that she almost missed her flight because she had to wait 15 minutes? If so, maybe she should arrive at the airport a little earlier and “pack [her] patience,” as her dad recommends.
I suppose her point about constitutionality is that airlines or airports should oversee security screening, rather than the federal government. However, that likely wouldn’t actually change the type of screening that’s required, or cause the experience to be any less invasive. But I guess she’d feel better about it if the federal government weren’t at all involved?
Bottom line
Evita Duffy-Alfonso, the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, wants the TSA to be abolished. She’s angry because she had to wait 15 minutes after opting out of the typical screening process, over concerns of radiation exposure. She claims the staff were rude, and argues that the entire organization is unconstitutional.
What do you make of Duffy-Alfonso’s comments?
Transportation Secretary and TSA, probably sit in nearby offices. Surely they can make it better for everyone.
Obviously many men offer their sarcastic replies. As they've never been pregnant.
LOL Anthony your argument took. an unexepected turn there! Help me understand why the proximity of the Transportation Secretary's office and the TSA is a dependent clause in an admonition of men making sarcastic replies due in part to their lack of pregnancy experience
Cry me a f*****g river, you uneducated b***o! Also, guess where we learned about radiation exposure from? Scientific research which ironically, daddy's party is limiting funding for.
Just another nepo-baby expecting special treatment and getting mad when she doesn't get it.
she's not really wrong about a lot of them being drunk on a little bit of power and thinking theyre better than what they are
Evita, you had to wait 15 minutes of your precious lifetime? Hahaha, typical over entitled brat. Wake up dumbo
Another over-privileged, delusional child of maga who thinks they're special because of their father. Not a good person.
I was waiting to read that she pulled out the DYKWIA? card. Did she I wonder?
Seems like she's pretty on board with the Trump agenda, but she probably thought that nothing even mildly nasty could happen to her.
Well toughen up princess, it's gonna get real nasty for everyone, and the closer you are to the flame (blowtorch) the more you'll get burnt.
Spoiled brat. Period.
Let's all take it easy with the ad hominem attacks and take a breath. Where is she actually wrong? TSA is under DHS, that's true and it's also true DHS was invented after 9/11 along with the "Patriot Act" which allowed our government to spy on us.
I don't blame her for not walking through a "safe" body scanner - she's pregnant and worried.
Take it easy guys - you're looking like a pack of sickos. Her truth is her own - believe all women.
Lucky why did you mention 1 of 9 children? It’s irrelevant.
To the daughter, Instead of yapping, do something about it.
And, the beauty of this is, you can ignore it. I found it interesting, but each to their own. It's not like it is some negative (or positive) thrown in for no reason.
Her real dad is Puck.
People keep trashing TSA.
The organization is important with huge responsibility. I fully and have complete total respect for what they stand for.
The problem is it's execution.
The problem is it's inconsistent.
The problem is they're incompetent.
You have 10 machines and only 2 lines open.
You have the machines that some needs to take you laptop out, some doesn't.
You have one "debatable" object that went through 10 times...
People keep trashing TSA.
The organization is important with huge responsibility. I fully and have complete total respect for what they stand for.
The problem is it's execution.
The problem is it's inconsistent.
The problem is they're incompetent.
You have 10 machines and only 2 lines open.
You have the machines that some needs to take you laptop out, some doesn't.
You have one "debatable" object that went through 10 times and wasn't allowed on the 11th.
You have them tell your shoes on then say you're shoe is too big? You need to take them off (3 out of 5 time).
You have TSA go vigilante.
You have TSA on a power trip.
Those same machines can scan liquid in EU but the selling expensive water after security conspiracy still holds in US.
For the nepo, she isn't wrong. But wait till she goes to DMV.
Except, I have none of these issues. I wear normal shoes. I know what gets flagged and prepare properly. Ain't rocket science.
@This comes to mind
From all your responses to other posts.
Obviously you fly once a year.
Dear Ms. Duffy (you only get one last name, no hyphens), maybe research this radiation claim. Also, if I'm delayed 15 minutes at screening, I'm still there well before boarding starts. Maybe become the woman that deserves to be a mother?
She needs to write a firmly worded letter to Mr Royal Hampton about this outrage!
Her deciding that standard security protocols don’t apply to her and then it taking extra time due to that is definitely someone else’s problem!
why unnecessarily arguing and accusing the pregnant pax
they should have a separate lane for disabled and pregnant women
they can be exempted
the pregnant woman should have informed t s a officers/staff that
she is a daughter of the transportation secretary they would have
considered her request for being exempted from xray machine.
lastly woman security staff could have been deployed to check
her body when the...
why unnecessarily arguing and accusing the pregnant pax
they should have a separate lane for disabled and pregnant women
they can be exempted
the pregnant woman should have informed t s a officers/staff that
she is a daughter of the transportation secretary they would have
considered her request for being exempted from xray machine.
lastly woman security staff could have been deployed to check
her body when the pax is pregnant.
there is great risk for a pregnant woman to go thru x ray machine
it is like standing in front of the microwave machine when it is on
Nope, getting pregnant shouldn't exempt you. Bad actors will pretend to be pregnant and hide things in the bulge.
A. Why should she get special treatment just because she's the secretary's daughter?
B. Why and how does she have any influence over policy decisions?
C. Personal opinion, but hell, the DHS should be abolished and go back to the days pre-9/11; Get rid of all that excess government bloat.
D. How old is she?
She's the only one who is unconstitutional! Get a life and make kids like rabbits like your father did.
I am not American but every time I see another US citizen spouting off about constitutionality, I fact check for five seconds. There is no "Right to Travel" clause in the US constitution. The Supreme Court, however, recognizes it as fundamental. The sense, however, is that states cannot create barriers or discriminate against citizens from other states. Do they teach the Constitution in Public School in the US?
Unfortunately, no.
The good thing is they pretty much don't, since most teachers would teach an inaccurate version that matches their leftist beliefs.
She can go on as a 'special guest' to have a good old whine.
She sounds like an amusing creature. But considering what her parents do for a living, are we really surprised she's simultaneously so dense and so entitled?
Ben, take a look at yourself. This lady is a nobody who just happens to be the daughter of a cabinet member. Whose opinion will you air next? The grand-nephew of the Treasury Secretary? The maternal aunt of the War Secretary?? Get a grip, Ben! It's one thing if it's coming from Sean Duffy himself. But from his daughter?!! Slow news day at OMAAT? Bills to pay?
We don't have a "War Secretary." Haven't since the 1940s.
I agree with the sentiment of this but not the tone as it's unproductive. Ben picks articles based on his political leanings that make a certain side look a certain way. An opinion of a non-public figure is a stretch. This is a liberal and conservative tactic to try and push a narrative. "look at what someone said on twitter" and then amplify it. You can find anything on social media so it's really meaningless.
...I agree with the sentiment of this but not the tone as it's unproductive. Ben picks articles based on his political leanings that make a certain side look a certain way. An opinion of a non-public figure is a stretch. This is a liberal and conservative tactic to try and push a narrative. "look at what someone said on twitter" and then amplify it. You can find anything on social media so it's really meaningless.
What's more relevant is how Lucky covers Trump's deportation flights, but didn't cover Biden flying in immigrants in an undisclosed fashion. Another example would be not a single article on Sam Brinton, which was a huge story throughout even the mainstream media.
Ultimately, I wish OMAAT was a more inclusive place where we can bond over hating Diplo, instead of posting stories with a political angle, right or left.
>Ben picks articles based on his political leanings that make a certain side look a certain way.
Not Ben's fault MAGA is a clown cult.
Permit me to be helpful. Read things on the internet that you find interesting. Ignore the rest. Simple, ain't it?
I think we should allow an alternative system where certain airports and airlines don't have to have any security checks. Then the people who want that can fly on that system, and let's see how great it is.
Smart idea /s
Another stupid post by Schlappig! Nothing better to write about?
Just scroll past. There's no obligation to read it, and there's certainly no obligation to leave a comment.
No one is forcing you to read this. Or, maybe the deep state is. Hmmmm
For those of you who need an explanation, that was sarcasm.
No, you must read and comment. We say so. Do it.
Yeah, you were forced to read this? STFU
There certainly is a lot to be critical of with the TSA. My biggest gripe is the cost versus the service received. For the huge cost, the lines should be short and efficient. There should be no 15 minute wait to get a pat down.
I am fine with the cost I just believe we should be getting MUCH better and consistent service. There should be extremely rare events when there is over a 5 minute wait.
I'm pretty sure there was no 15 minute wait for a patdown shes an entitled twit......and a liar.
And, if she was, it shouldn't risk missing her flight, unless she thinks arriving 30 minutes or less for your flight is acceptable.
Karens gonna Karen.
Nine children - could we talk about population control? It's frightening to think that there are 8 more of these....
There is 100% at least one child he never interacts with that could get Kevin McCallister'd this Christmas
In the western world, there is insufficient childbirth to keep the population at current levels. You think that should continue?
@This comes to mind
Then perhaps it's a good idea to increase access to and lower the costs of healthcare, especially reproductive care, and also building more and denser housing to lower the cost of living. Instead of, you know, giving tax breaks to billionaires, effectively banning reproductive care, and skyrocketing the cost of healthcare in general. Not everybody can be a rich nepobaby supporting a tradwife influencer and 10 kids on their trust fund.
Abolish TSA.
And do what?
She she believes security is not necessary
After renaming the Kennedy Center the Trump Kennedy Center it’s the icing on the cake after turning the White House into a bordello, confirming the US government is a bunch of f lunatics running a totalitarian state.
Quick, get Evita a slot on Fox. Then she can tell us how to fix everything.
Mommy already has that slot.
Oh yes but nepotism in training!
She can go on as a 'special guest' to have a good old whine.
Taking a look at pictures of Duffy, is his nose at a bit of an odd angle from his face? No offense intended, genuinely curious if other see it too. Just slight case of Picasso nose there I think
It is quite off-centre.
Appreciate the confirmation
Before TSA, can we make stupidity unconstitutional?
Certified moron. But what do you expect from a child of the Trump administration?
I'd be more understanding of the radiation concern but the exposure from a body scanner is far lower than the numbers seen from being in a flight
Correct. The TSA utilizes two types of body scanners - millimeter wave machines and backscatter X-ray machines. Per the NIH, “millimeter wave scanners emit extremely low energy waves- each scan delivers a small fraction of the energy of a cell phone.” “Backscatter x-ray scanner, the more common scanner type in the U.S., utilizes very low dose x-rays, similar to those used in medical imaging…backscatter x-ray scans deliver radiation equivalent to around 1–3 minutes of flight...
Correct. The TSA utilizes two types of body scanners - millimeter wave machines and backscatter X-ray machines. Per the NIH, “millimeter wave scanners emit extremely low energy waves- each scan delivers a small fraction of the energy of a cell phone.” “Backscatter x-ray scanner, the more common scanner type in the U.S., utilizes very low dose x-rays, similar to those used in medical imaging…backscatter x-ray scans deliver radiation equivalent to around 1–3 minutes of flight time.”
@Dan - You don't know what you're talking about. I think you'll find that the NIH article you used is old, very old. TSA eschewed backscatter X-ray units for passenger screening by 2014 (almost all of them were pulled out by 2013.) throughout the U.S. Currently, TSA scans passengers solely with advanced millimeter wave body scanners (AIT) with Automated Target Recognition (ATR) and standard walk-through metal detectors, and sometimes they supplement that with wands that...
@Dan - You don't know what you're talking about. I think you'll find that the NIH article you used is old, very old. TSA eschewed backscatter X-ray units for passenger screening by 2014 (almost all of them were pulled out by 2013.) throughout the U.S. Currently, TSA scans passengers solely with advanced millimeter wave body scanners (AIT) with Automated Target Recognition (ATR) and standard walk-through metal detectors, and sometimes they supplement that with wands that use the same technology as the body scanners and metal detectors.
X-ray is only used on luggage. TSA uses both CT Scanners and some older 2D X-Ray units which will soon be replaced with CT Scanners. No x-ray is used to screen passengers themselves.
She's a moron. Her cell phone emits more radiation than an airport scanner. She was just looking for a reason to elevate her status among the MAGA fools and drive more of the sheeple to her podcast/book/website/christian camp/crypto scam or whatever other grift her family is in on.
What about a special lane for expecting families and/or families with infants. Thats where this conversation should begin. Most civilized countries care about people. The frustration of being stuck in any kind of security lane can be avoided with such sincere measures. Downstream agents are clear of needs for people in those lanes and are not overwhelmed with pressure of getting hordes of other people through.
TSA doesn’t care.
India, has separate lanes for males and females at their airport security although the cultural reasons why that's necessary are probably uncomfortable for many to explore too deeply.
As someone who's ran the gamut of solo traveler, and parent with young children plus stroller and bags, I do have sympathy for the concept of a dedicated family lane. Not that I find families as being a particularly frequent logjam (elderly Asians have that distinction).
The...
India, has separate lanes for males and females at their airport security although the cultural reasons why that's necessary are probably uncomfortable for many to explore too deeply.
As someone who's ran the gamut of solo traveler, and parent with young children plus stroller and bags, I do have sympathy for the concept of a dedicated family lane. Not that I find families as being a particularly frequent logjam (elderly Asians have that distinction).
The machines are sus - Michael Chertoff, who drove their adoption, is a demon in human form. All his motivations are ulterior, and we know at least there were no long term studies relating to the technology being safe.
I'm all for caring about families and children, but that should start with accessible childcare, healthcare and ending childhood hunger before schmucks like that woman get any kinfd of special treatment in an airport.
But, but, but that would mean less money available for executive bonuses and tax cuts for Elon Musk!
No special lanes other than pre-check.
While we'd all like to have a less onerous TSA, her take is just that of a young Karen. "Oh no I arrived late at the airport, and I refuse to be scanned, so now I need this pat down." The stupidity is endless. Get to the airport earlier, dummy.
Do you know who my father is?
Exactly. If a 15-minute delay at the TSA causes you to "nearly miss your flight," then you've got a serious problem managing your time.
You can tell by her tone that she spends a lot of time yelling at sales clerks for stuff she did/broke/lost.
I sometimes wonder whether people who continuously bash the TSA have actually tried the alternatives (within the USA)?
I used to fly in/out of MCI on a regular basis, and let me just say the private contractor they brought in to replace the TSA was and is no better or worse than the TSA agents they replaced.
As Alonzo and others are alluding to, it's the screening process itself that needs to be revised/improved (and,...
I sometimes wonder whether people who continuously bash the TSA have actually tried the alternatives (within the USA)?
I used to fly in/out of MCI on a regular basis, and let me just say the private contractor they brought in to replace the TSA was and is no better or worse than the TSA agents they replaced.
As Alonzo and others are alluding to, it's the screening process itself that needs to be revised/improved (and, dare I say it, evidence-based). Whether or not the person shouting orders at you is wearing a blue shirt, a black jacket, or an orange/green jumpsuit makes no difference.
Given the Administration's willingness to quickly shutter other entities, the fact that TSA still exists suggests the Administration doesn't want to shutter it. That being said, TSA is not unconstitutional. Its legitimacy is backed by case law. It might not be an efficient organization and one might not like it but it lawfully exist.
I have said the TSA should be dissolved forever. I completely agree with her.
And your proposed alternative is . . .?
Just like ending other GOP-borne idea, the ACA, they have no alternatives.
So randomly interrogating brown people at a park is constitutional and a white woman getting a pat down (her choice) at airport security is not? (I'm just get this inevitable thread started..)
With a name like Evita and Alfonso, you'd like this might be a wake-up-call that her father is involved with a regime that might not consider her part of the 'in' group. Maybe, just maybe, we shouldn't run the society in these ways. Like, 'equal before the law' was a good thing. Favoritism for loyalists, cronies, and oligarchs isn't. And, no, abolishing agencies isn't the answer either.
Something needs to be said and done about the wildly outdated approach that TSA takes. I mean, it's 2025 and people just stopped taking off their shoes.
On a more serious note, I do think the radiation that the machines emit does need to be seriously talked about. Minimal but still invasive.
Yeah, and everyone needs to stop being vaccinated for anything because autism.
And Tylenol is murder.
And let's not get started on chemtrails.
:rolleyes:
Vast majority of airport body scanners use mm wave technology. The photon energy is too low to remove electrons from atoms (unlike X-rays or gamma-rays) - this is non-ionizing radiation, no health effects, no penetration below skin level. Image resolution and quality are quite high, which is why for privacy reasons the machines never display the actual image at the checkpoint, only a generic figure with suspected areas in red boxes.
You know, if you want me to pack my patience, I'd better get extra room under the seat in front of me. If I don't, it's getting checked and I'll pick it up at my destination... /s
I think massive changes could be made, but basically all of them would require funding that will almost certainly have to come from Congress. So not quite as simple as "Trump can fix it". Some things? Sure. Massive change? Not likely even if he wanted to.
I also struggle to find this article-worthy, even if one hates Trump. Children of politicians on both sides of the aisle express opinions every day. It would maybe be...
I think massive changes could be made, but basically all of them would require funding that will almost certainly have to come from Congress. So not quite as simple as "Trump can fix it". Some things? Sure. Massive change? Not likely even if he wanted to.
I also struggle to find this article-worthy, even if one hates Trump. Children of politicians on both sides of the aisle express opinions every day. It would maybe be a little more relevant if this was Noem's daughter instead of Duffy's, but still a stretch.
TSA should be mostly run by tech and AI. This is what AI was made for. Boring, repetitive tasks to spot anomalies. TSA personnel can take over anything that the AI rejects. Unlike customer service or software deployment where there's a huge human element needed.
Australia has already rolled out much faster and better screening. Therefore, no need for a job program of people mostly standing around. No need for Precheck and Clear.
Australia doesn’t even check ID at domestic terminal security. Like, just boarding pass, and scanners. That’s it. Perhaps, they haven’t dealt with 9/11, or they’re doing as you say. Who knows. I’ve felt safe down there each time regardless and no known major incidents lately with aviation security there, other than that customs issue with Johnny Depp’s dogs.