Controversial airport watchlist program terminated by DHS amid weaponization concerns
EXCLUSIVE: The Department of Homeland Security is ending the Quiet Skies program, which left some Americans subject to additional screenings at airport security.
The department says the agency was overly politicized to either benefit or hurt specific people and ran a bill of roughly $200 million annually. According to DHS, the program kept a watchlist as well as a list of people exempted. The department says Quiet Skies has not prevented any terrorist attacks but will continue to use other methods to assure safe air travel.
"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. 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," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.
DHS says that the list of exemptions of people who avoid "security policies" included "foreign royal families, political elites, professional athletes, and favored journalists."
The program that started in 2010 was seen as a terror prevention method, and it faced escalating scrutiny from the left and right, including groups like the American Civil Liberties Union.
"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 traveling public. This includes restoring the integrity, privacy, and equal application of the law for all Americans," Noem continued.
In 2018, the ACLU asked the Transportation Security Administration for more information about the program.
"The TSA is engaging in covert surveillance of travelers and raising a host of disturbing questions in the process. While the program's existence is now public, the TSA has kept nearly everything else about the program secret," Hugh Handeyside, senior staff attorney with the ACLU's National Security Project, said in a 2018 news release.
"Travelers deserve to know how this surveillance is being implemented, what its consequences are for Americans, and for how long the TSA is retaining the information it gathers. What we've seen so far is troubling, which is why we're demanding that the TSA hand over records it's been hiding from the public. This is a much needed step towards transparency and accountability for an agency with a track record of using unreliable and unscientific techniques, such as 'behavior detection,' to screen and monitor travelers who have done nothing wrong," he added.
DHS pointed out a specific situation in which William Shaheen, the husband of New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, was removed from the list after reaching out to the former head of TSA during the Biden administration in 2023, according to CBS News. DHS said that he "traveled with a known or suspected terrorist" three times.
The senator's office confirmed to CBS News she had reached out to TSA after her husband dealt with intense security obstacles while flying, but was unaware of any specific lists her husband was or was not on. The outlet reported that he was flying with an attorney was subject of the terrorism flag.
The department also cited Tulsi Gabbard's past placement on the Silent Partner Quiet Skies list.
Fox News Digital reached out to Shaheen's office for comment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
32 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Jurors have convicted a Minnesota man of killing 5 young woman in a 2023 vehicle crash
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A state court jury convicted a Minneapolis-area man Friday of third-degree murder and vehicular homicide in the deaths of five young women in a crash that authorities said was caused by him speeding, running a red light and slamming into their car. Jurors in Hennepin County District Court deliberated two days before reaching their verdict in the case of Derrick John Thompson, 29, of Brooklyn Park, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported. In November, a federal court jury convicted Thompson on drug and firearms charges because investigators found a handgun, ammunition and illegal drugs in his vehicle after the June 2023 crash, and he is awaiting sentencing in that case. He was convicted Friday of 15 charges and his sentencing is set for July 24. Third-degree murder is unintentionally causing a death through 'eminently dangerous' actions and with 'a depraved mind, without regard for human life.' 'His choices that day scarred many lives and affected an entire community,' Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty told reporters following the verdict, according to KARE-TV. The Minneapolis crash victims — Salma Abdikadir, Siham Adam, Sabiriin Ali, Sahra Gesaade and Sagal Hersi — were between 17 and 20 years old, on their way home from preparations for a friend's wedding. Their deaths sparked sorrow and outage among Minnesota's sizeable Somali American population. Prosecutors have said Thompson was driving a black Cadillac Escalade on a Minnesota freeway at 95 mph (153 kph) in a 55 mph- (89 kph-) speed zone and abruptly cut across four lanes of traffic to exit the freeway, flying by a state highway patrol trooper. Thompson's defense attorney, Tyler Bliss, raised questions about whether Thompson's brother might have played a role in the crash that authorities did not investigate. The brother was not charged and testified that he didn't drive the SUV the night of the crash and Thompson was the last person he saw behind the wheel. Bliss called that testimony 'self-serving.' Thompson previously served part of an eight-year prison sentence in California in connection with a 2018 hit-and-run accident that severely injured a woman in the Santa Barbara area. He was released from prison there months before the crash in Minneapolis. Court records show that Thompson is the son of a former Democratic state representative from St. Paul who was sharply critical of police during his one term in office.
Fox News
37 minutes ago
- Fox News
Man accused of Boulder firebombing at pro-Israel event appears in court on federal hate crime charge
The suspect accused of injuring over a dozen people after throwing Molotov cocktails into a crowd of peaceful pro-Israel demonstrators last weekend appeared in federal court in Denver Friday to face a federal hate crime charge. Along with a federal hate crime charge, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, faces additional charges in Colorado, including attempted murder. Soliman allegedly crafted 18 Molotov cocktails before driving to Boulder June 1 and prepared for the peaceful pro-Israel demonstrators to arrive for the "Run For Their Lives," in support of the Israeli hostages. Soliman is accused of throwing two incendiary devices at the crowd. Soliman entered a courtroom Friday wearing a green jumpsuit and handcuffs. While waiting for the hearing to start, Soliman silently rocked in his chair and looked around the room but away from the audience. It began with Soliman being asked if he had read the complaint filed against him. After confirming that he had, Soliman was read his rights, and he asked for a court-appointed attorney. The court determined Soliman qualified for a court-appointed attorney. Prosecutor Melissa Hindman requested that Soliman be detained, and the defendant did not contest that request. Magistrate Judge Kathryn A. Starnella ordered Soliman be detained and set the next court date for 10 a.m. June 18. Victims and witnesses observed Soliman throw what appeared to be a glass bottle, which burst upon impact, creating large flames, an affidavit said. He also allegedly used a commercial weed sprayer as a "makeshift blowtorch." According to the affidavit, authorities discovered multiple glass bottles containing liquid, a lighter, rags, an insecticide sprayer and an AR-style rifle BB gun in Soliman's 2015 silver Toyota Prius. Authorities also found a Quran and paperwork with the words "Israel," "Palestine" and "USAID." In his interview with law enforcement, Soliman said he had no remorse for his actions and reiterated his intent to carry them out again if given the opportunity. The affidavit noted that Soliman left behind an iPhone and a journal at his Colorado Springs home, detailing his motivations and preparations for the attack. Facing a litany of charges, including multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and possession of incendiary devices, Soliman had initially been held on $10 million bond. If convicted, and his sentences are ordered to run consecutively, he could face a maximum of 384 years in state prison for those charges alone. Soliman was also charged with two counts of use of an incendiary device, which could add up to 48 years if served consecutively.
CBS News
38 minutes ago
- CBS News
New $5M federal grant to assist with Rapidan Dam flooding recovery, including replacing County 9 bridge
Federal grant to help repair damages done by 2024 floods in southern Minnesota Federal grant to help repair damages done by 2024 floods in southern Minnesota Federal grant to help repair damages done by 2024 floods in southern Minnesota Nearly a year ago, the Rapidan Dam and surrounding area were hit by major flooding. It cost one family their home and damaged infrastructure in the area. But now, help for repairs is on the way in the form of a $5 million federal grant that will assist with recovery. "It was an unprecedented event for Blue Earth County," said Ryan Thilges, Blue Earth County public works director. Many people will remember the dramatic flooding along the Rapidan Dam that did major damage to roads and bridges. When the river began to rise last June, the nearby County 9 bridge was closed and never reopened due to unsafe conditions. The bridge was eventually torn down, leaving a void in the county. "It's a really important farmer market road that's left a 15 miles detour to go around, now. So, combines and farm equipment have to make an arduous and long detour in the interim until we can get the new bridge done," said Thilges. WCCO Thilges said a federal grant will help get a new bridge built. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith say the grant covers 42 counties and will go towards surveying and repairing damage done by last year's flooding. "It's a very arduous, very financially-challenging process so as much help as we can get we certainly have been in touch with Sen. Smith and Sen. Klobuchar's office as well as Congressman Finstad and a lot of our state and local legislators as well," said Thilges. Thilges said the plan now is to begin construction on the new County Road 9 bridge by the end of next year. And the hope is to have it fully built and open by the end of 2027 or early 2028. He believes it's a win for southern Minnesota, with other communities soon benefitting from much-needed repairs. "It's great for Blue Earth County but also for the state of Minnesota and those areas that were impacted by the devastating flooding," said Thilges. Lawmakers said the grant is available through the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief Program.
