'Turn my head': Sean Duffy admits actively thwarting his own agency's security protocols

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that he tries to defeat the security protocols implemented by his own agency.

During a Thursday Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) complained to Duffy about the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) facial recognition policy.

"When most people go through TSA, they take your picture," Kennedy explained. "They have a little camera there, and they say, look in the camera, we want to take your picture."

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"I won't let them take my picture," the senator insisted.

"I won't either, Senator," Duffy agreed.

"And they promised us that they destroy the data, okay?" Kennedy noted. "Once again, I don't believe that Elvis is alive either."

"I couldn't agree with you more," Duffy replied. "I actually try to turn my head away from the camera when I go through and they're taking pictures."

"I don't think you need a digital scan of my face to allow me to have the right to fly on an airplane," he added. "I think it's absolutely wrong, and what does it do to security? I don't think it breeds any more security in our airspace, on our airplanes."

Duffy did not explain why the facial recognition policy had not been rescinded.

"The facial recognition technology represents a significant security enhancement and improves traveler convenience," the TSA claimed on its website. "The facial recognition technology TSA uses helps ensure the person standing at the checkpoint is the same person pictured on the identification document (ID) credential. Photos are not stored or saved after a positive ID match has been made, except in a limited testing environment for evaluation of the effectiveness of the technology."

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