End of TSA’s “Quiet Skies” Program Announced

On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem declared the termination of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) “Quiet Skies” program.

According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the traveler surveillance initiative “didn’t prevent a single terrorist attack despite costing $200 million a year.” The statement further noted that the program was allegedly used to target political adversaries while favoring allies.

The DHS and TSA conducted an internal investigation that revealed documents, communications, and timelines highlighting how the “quiet skies” and watchlist programs were applied inconsistently to benefit certain political allies.

Noem didn’t present concrete evidence from this investigation but urged Congress to delve deeper into the matter.

“It seems that the quiet skies program functioned as the Biden administration’s political tool, misused to undermine opponents while helping their friends,” Noem expressed in her remarks.

She called for a congressional inquiry into what she described as corruption jeopardizing both the American people and national security.

Noem stated that the program would end in order to maintain the safety of Air Force operations.

“The TSA will keep its essential aviation and security review measures while refocusing on its core mission—ensuring the safety and security of travelers, with a renewed commitment to integrity, privacy, and fair treatment for all Americans,” she noted.

The previously confidential program aimed to track potential security threats from “unknown or partially known terrorists.”

This initiative involved undercover agents and federal airline sources monitoring passenger behavior. This included assessing how close individuals were to boarding areas and observing physical reactions like sweating or nervous movements.

The program has faced criticism from both political parties over concerns regarding potential violations of civil liberties.

Last year, the scrutiny intensified when former Representative Tulsi Gabbard alleged that she might have been put on a “secret terrorist watchlist” for political reasons.

Earlier this week, DHS officials confirmed that Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s husband had been placed on the watchlist in 2023 but was removed after she spoke to the former TSA director.

A spokesperson for the senator stated that she was not aware of her husband’s monitoring under the program.