Recent reports have revealed that the controversial TSA "Quiet Skies" program once targeted three Republican members of Congress, alongside former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. Independent journalist Matt Taibbi shared details about this surveillance program, which has drawn significant criticism for its methods and implications.
The documents provided to the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee show that two of the Republican representatives were placed on the surveillance list even before they were elected. They remained on this list after taking office. According to the Senate committee, a simple check would have identified them as members of Congress or as decorated veterans. However, their names and states were redacted in the released documents.
The "Quiet Skies" program began in 2010 and faced scrutiny after Gabbard, who has been vocal against the Democratic Party, was followed by Air Marshals and bomb-sniffing dogs during her flights. The program was terminated in June by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who criticized it as a politically motivated tool used against opponents of the Biden Administration.
The Senate committee also disclosed that the TSA had an additional watchlist for individuals suspected of traveling to the National Capital Region related to the January 6 Capitol riot. This list was intended for those deemed to pose an elevated risk without specific evidence of unlawful activity.
Gabbard was reportedly surveilled on at least eight flights in the summer of 2024, appearing on the list as a "possible affiliate" of someone in the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB). This designation followed her attendance at an event in the Vatican linked to a businessman on an FBI watchlist.
Text exchanges among Air Marshals indicated that Gabbard’s surveillance was influenced by her connection to the TSDB. One Marshal noted that her status as a former Congress member likely affected her placement on the list, while another suggested that human discretion played a role in the decision-making process.
Taibbi, who testified before the Senate committee, harshly criticized the "Quiet Skies" program. He highlighted the program’s failure to prevent any crimes despite its substantial funding, which amounted to $200 million a year. He expressed concerns about the government’s ongoing surveillance of its citizens, emphasizing the civil liberties issues that arise from such practices.
The revelations surrounding the "Quiet Skies" program have sparked renewed discussions about privacy, government oversight, and the balance between national security and civil rights. As the story develops, many are left questioning the implications of such surveillance on political figures and ordinary citizens alike.
