Trump administration ends TSA’s ‘Quiet Skies’ program used to surveil Americans

The Quiet Skies program was used to secretly surveil Americans who were deemed potential national security threats. — Image credit: Jeffrey Greenberg/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

Notable cases

The Quiet Skies surveillance program under the TSA reportedly targeted Trump administration officials, like Tulsi Gabbard, during the prior administration.

Why?

The Trump administration said the move to end the program is designed to save roughly $200 million in taxpayer dollars annually and argue the program is ineffectual.

Other Targets

Quiet Skies has also reportedly surveilled people in Washington D.C. amid the Jan. 6 capitol riots and a Democratic senator’s husband.

Full story

The Trump administration confirmed a report on Thursday, June 5, that it is shuttering the Quiet Skies program, which was used to secretly surveil Americans who were deemed potential national security threats. The administration’s intent to end the program was first reported by CBS News on Wednesday, June 4, just a day before Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made the official announcement on X.

Noem said that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) “is ending the Quiet Skies Program, which since its existence has failed to stop a SINGLE terrorist attack while costing US taxpayers roughly $200 million a year.”

Noem’s rationale

Noem argued that the Biden administration weaponized the program against political opponents “under the guise of national security.” She also vowed to launch an internal investigation into Quiet Skies and requested Congress also look into “corruption” within the program.

Noem said that the TSA will continue to be present at airports and perform its normal security duties, including REAL ID checks, a new rule implemented on May 7.

“The Trump administration will return the TSA to its true mission of being laser-focused on the safety and security of the traveling public,” she said. “This includes restoring the integrity, privacy and equal application of the law for all Americans.”

Previous criticism

Quiet Skies has drawn criticism from some within the Trump administration, including U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who was on the Quiet Skies list, according to TSA whistleblowers, as reported by Straight Arrow News in August 2024. Gabbard, at the time, announced legal action against the Biden administration, saying she believed the administration targeted her because of her outspoken views on Ukraine.

Democrats also targeted under Quiet Skies

The agency never officially confirmed or declined Gabbard’s inclusion on the Quiet Skies list. The TSA was also reportedly using the program to monitor people in Washington at the time of the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots. Some U.S. citizens have had to undergo an extensive process to have their names removed from the list.

CBS News also reported on Tuesday, June 3, that the husband of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., was on the Quiet Skies watchlist in 2023. However, shortly after Shaheen spoke with the TSA’s director under former President Joe Biden, her husband was removed from the list. A spokesperson for Shaheen said she previously had no knowledge her husband, William Shaheen, was tracked by the Quiet Skies program.

The Trump administration has not disclosed whether staff involved in the Quiet Skies program will be reassigned or if their positions will be eliminated.

Lawrence Banton (Digital Producer) and Bast Bramhall (Video Editor) contributed to this report.

Tags: Kristi Noem, Surveillance, Terrorism, Trump administration, TSA

[Kale Carey]

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CONFIRMED REPORTS IT WILL SHUTTER THE T-S-A’S QUIET SKIES PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM WAS USED TO SECRETLY SURVEIL AMERICANS DEEMED NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS SINCE 2012. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM ANNOUNCED THE DECISION THURSDAY ON X.

NOEM SAYS THE DECISION WAS MADE BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES IT IS INEFFECTIVE AND THE MOVE WILL SAVE TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

“SINCE ITS EXISTENCE IT HAS FAILED TO STOP A SINGLE TERRORIST ATTACK. WHILE IT COSTS U.S. TAXPAYER ROUGHLY ABOUT 200 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR,” SHE SAID.

SHE ALSO ACCUSED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OF WEAPONIZING THE PROGRAM.

“THIS PROGRAM UNDER THE GUISE OF NATIONAL SECURITY HAS TARGETED POLITICAL OPPONENTS AND BENEFITED POLITICAL ALLIES OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION,” NOEM SAID.

NOEM ALSO VOWED TO LAUNCH AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION AND CALLED FOR CONGRESS TO BEGIN ONE AS WELL.

“IN ADDITION TO CONDUCTING OUR OWN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, I’M CALLING FOR A FULL AND THOROUGH CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION TO UNCOVER FURTHER CORRUPTION WITHIN THIS PROGRAM,” SHE SAID.

NOEM SAYS THE T-S-A WILL CONTINUE TO BE PRESENT AT AIRPORTS AND PERFORM ITS NORMAL SECURITY DUTIES, INCLUDING REAL I-D CHECKS, A NEW RULE IMPLEMENTED EARLY LAST MONTH.

SHE WENT ON TO SAY, “SO, TSA IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO PERFORM IMPORTANT VETTING FUNCTIONS TO STOP SECURITY THREATS AND TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN TRAVELER. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL RETURN THE 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.”

QUIET SKIES HAS DRAWN CRITICISM FROM SOME WITHIN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE TULSI GABBARD. GABBARD WAS REPORTEDLY ON THE T-S-A’S WATCHLIST AND IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR ANNOUNCED LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR HER INCLUSION. SHE BELIEVES SHE WAS TARGETED DUE TO HER STANCE ON UKRAINE.

THE PROGRAM HAS ALSO REPORTEDLY BEEN USED TO TRACK PEOPLE WHO WERE IN D-C AT THE TIME OF THE CAPITOL RIOTS AND DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JEANNE SHEEHAN’S HUSBAND. SHAHEEN’S HUSBAND, WILLIAM SHAHEEN, WAS TAKEN OFF THE LIST AFTER THE SENATOR SPOKE WITH THE T-S-A DIRECTOR UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT BIDEN.

Why this story matters

The decision to end the TSA's Quiet Skies program raises questions about government surveillance, civil liberties, and oversight of national security initiatives affecting American citizens.

Government surveillance

Concerns over secret monitoring of U.S. citizens highlight debates about privacy versus security and the limits of surveillance programs.

Political weaponization

Allegations from Kristi Noem and others that the Quiet Skies program targeted political opponents underscore the potential for surveillance systems to be misused for partisan purposes.

Accountability and transparency

Calls for investigations and clarification regarding who was monitored and why illustrate demands for greater oversight and openness in government security measures.

Get the big picture

Synthesized coverage insights across 8 media outlets

Behind the numbers

According to a 2018 Boston Globe investigation, the Quiet Skies program flagged 40 to 50 passengers for monitoring by Federal Air Marshals Service every day, with about 35 being monitored daily. This data indicates a relatively small but consistent number of Americans subjected to enhanced surveillance at any given time, contributing to concerns about resources and privacy.

Common ground

All sources agree that the Quiet Skies program involves monitoring airline passengers, including U.S. citizens, for potential security threats. There is consensus that the program has been criticized for its opaque criteria and uneven application, leading to scrutiny and controversy over privacy, transparency, and possible political misuse.

History lesson

Behavioral surveillance programs in aviation security grew after 9/11, with subsequent efforts like Quiet Skies aiming to preempt threats through expanded monitoring. Historical criticism has focused on the balance between security and civil liberties, highlighting the need for oversight and transparency—concerns echoed in the controversy surrounding Quiet Skies.