Overview

• Noem announced on June 5 that the Quiet Skies program will be terminated after operating since 2010 at an annual cost of $200 million with no recorded terrorist prevention successes.
• An internal DHS and TSA review unearthed evidence that the program granted exemptions for political allies while subjecting critics to covert surveillance.
• William Shaheen, the husband of Senator Jeanne Shaheen, received a blanket exemption following his wife’s direct lobbying, highlighting inconsistent application of security rules.
• Opposition figures such as National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard reported intensive airport screenings she attributed to politically motivated targeting under the program.
• TSA will maintain its core security vetting functions and redirect federal air marshals to standard operational duties as Congress prepares to examine the program’s abuses.