DHS Ends Controversial Airport Watchlist Program Amid Security and Weaponization Concerns
Homeland Security discontinues $200 million Quiet Skies surveillance program amid fears of political misuse.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the immediate end of its controversial Quiet Skies program, a federal initiative that subjected select Americans to enhanced airport security screenings. Officials cited mounting evidence that the program had been used for political purposes, failed to prevent terrorist attacks, and carried an annual cost of approximately $200 million. The decision comes after years of growing scrutiny over the way the agency tracked and screened individuals traveling through U.S. airports.
According to DHS statements, the Quiet Skies program maintained both a watchlist and a special exemption list. The exemption list featured individuals such as foreign royal families, political elites, professional athletes, and favored journalists, who were allowed to bypass standard security protocols. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem strongly criticized the program, alleging it was “weaponized against its political foes and exploited to benefit their well-heeled friends.” Noem further called for a Congressional investigation, asserting that the Quiet Skies program represented an abuse of power that compromised national security and public trust.
Originally launched in 2010 as a counterterrorism effort, Quiet Skies was intended to bolster aviation safety by identifying potential threats based on travel patterns and behaviors. However, civil liberties groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, raised persistent concerns about privacy violations, lack of transparency, and the use of unscientific methods for targeting travelers. "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," said Hugh Handeyside, senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s National Security Project, in a previous statement. Critics argued that the program often flagged innocent travelers for additional scrutiny without clear criteria or oversight.
DHS also referenced several high-profile cases to underscore alleged abuses of the program. Notably, William Shaheen, the husband of New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, was reportedly removed from the Quiet Skies list after contacting TSA officials, despite records showing he had traveled multiple times with someone under terrorism investigation. In a separate case, former Representative Tulsi Gabbard was reportedly placed on a list tied to Quiet Skies, sparking accusations that the program was deployed to intimidate or punish political adversaries.
Going forward, DHS emphasized that all critical aviation and security vetting functions will continue, but the agency intends to return to a focus on “the safety and security of the traveling public,” free from political interference. “This includes restoring the integrity, privacy, and equal application of the law for all Americans,” said Secretary Noem. The department pledged to rely on more transparent and scientifically validated methods to protect passengers while addressing longstanding concerns about privacy and civil liberties at the nation’s airports.
