Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks during a news conference at the Department of Transportation in Washington, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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Evita Duffy-Alfonso, daughter of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, voiced her frustration over an “absurdly invasive” pat-down she endured at an airport security checkpoint on Thursday. She hinted that if her father had the authority, he might reduce or dismantle the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

In a post on the social media platform X, Duffy-Alfonso recounted her experience, claiming she almost missed her flight. She chose to opt out of a body scan due to her pregnancy and concerns about radiation, resulting in a 15-minute wait for a pat-down. During this time, she described TSA agents as “rude” and said they “tried to pressure” her into using the scanner.

“All this for an unconstitutional agency that isn’t even good at its job,” she remarked.

In response, the TSA released a statement on Friday acknowledging Duffy-Alfonso’s complaint.

“TSA takes complaints about airport security screening procedures seriously and investigates complaints thoroughly to ensure the correct procedures are applied,” the agency stated.

In another post, Duffy-Alfonso said her father would “radically limit” or “lobby Congress to abolish” TSA if it was under his control.

Duffy’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.

TSA is responsible for screening passengers, bags and cargo for weapons or explosives. It was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

“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.

The Transportation Department declined Friday to comment on Duffy-Alfonso’s complaints about TSA.

In 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.

According 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.”

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