Noem ending TSA Quiet Skies traveler surveillance program
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced Thursday she is ending the Transportation Safety Administration's (TSA) 'Quiet Skies Program,' saying it is costly, ineffective and used to target political opponents.
In a press release, DHS said 'since its existence,' the traveler surveillance program 'has failed to stop a single terrorist attack while costing US taxpayers $200 million a year,' adding, 'The program, under the guise of 'national security,' was used to target political opponents and benefit political allies.'
The press release said an internal investigation conducted by DHS and TSA uncovered documents, correspondence and timelines that demonstrate the 'inconsistent application of Quiet Skies and watchlisting programs' to benefit political allies.
Noem did not make public evidence from the internal investigation but called on Congress to investigate the matter further.
'It is clear that the Quiet Skies program was used as a political rolodex of the Biden Administration—weaponized against its political foes and exploited to benefit their well-heeled friends,' Noem said in a statement.
'I am calling for a Congressional investigation to unearth further corruption at the expense of the American people and the undermining of US national security,' she added.
Noem also said eliminating the program would not compromise air safety.
'TSA's critical aviation and security vetting functions will be maintained, and the Trump Administration will return TSA to its true mission of being laser-focused on the safety and security of the traveling public. This includes restoring the integrity, privacy, and equal application of the law for all Americans,' she added.
The once-secret program launched with the goal of monitoring potential security threats by 'unknown or partially known terrorists.'
Through the program, undercover federal air marshals would observe passengers' behavior. This can include watching how close they stand to the boarding area, how often they use the bathroom and any behavioral tics such as sweating or twitching.
The program has faced scrutiny from Democrats and Republicans alike in recent years, with many expressing concerns about potential civil liberty violations.
The issue came into even sharper focus last year, when Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman, said publicly that she was placed on a 'secret terror watch list' and suspected it was politically motivated.
Earlier this week, a DHS official confirmed to CBS News that Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's husband was placed on the watchlist in 2023 and removed after the senator spoke with the former TSA director.
The senator's spokesperson told CBS News that she was not aware her husband had been monitored under the program.
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