A report indicates that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem created "significant" security risks by allowing air travelers to keep their shoes on during security screenings, reversing a policy implemented in 2006 after a shoe-bomb attempt.
A classified report by the DHS inspector general concluded that some full-body scanners are incapable of screening shoes, and Noem's decision "inadvertently created a new security vulnerability." The report found that Noem's office did not take action to remedy the issue and instead increased the classification level of the report. While a DHS spokesperson disputed this, stating recommendations were implemented and the rule change followed risk assessments, the inspector general wrote to Congress in February that the department and TSA had not addressed requests to fix the security lapse.
The inspector general first informed Noem of the concern in August and noted that the department was legally bound to create a remediation plan by January 30. The issue has led to scrutiny of Noem's management style, with some officials claiming her focus on public profile has impacted departmental responsibilities.
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