Photo: Mark Schiefelbein ~ AP
PODCAST
September 11, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick and Lloyd Jackson speak with former Inspector General of the US Dept. of Transportation, Mary Schiavo, about the changes that happened in airport security after the 9/11 attacks, and, with changes happening now, should they change back?
WASHINGTON ~ For many Americans, one of the clearest memories of air travel before Sept. 11 is being able to walk a loved one to the gate or greet them the moment they stepped off a plane. That familiar part of the airport experience disappeared after the attacks, as new security measures reshaped the way people travel.
The changes became part of everyday life, from stricter screenings to limits on liquids brought through checkpoints following a failed terror plot involving liquid explosives in 2006. Now, a TSA pilot program at a handful of airports, including Detroit Metropolitan Airport, could allow some approved nontravelers to once again enter secure areas without a plane ticket.
Former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General Mary Schiavo said bringing back gate access may appeal to travelers’ sense of nostalgia, but she worries about the security implications. “The TSA every year takes about 7,000 guns off people, and 94% of them are loaded,” Schiavo said, adding that airports and security lines remain potential targets. Still, she supports limited exceptions for certain passengers, saying children traveling alone and people with mobility challenges “should be allowed some dignity and some access” when moving through the airport.
