Tulsi Gabbard, chosen by Donald Trump to head the intelligence community, was briefly placed on a Transportation Security Administration list that triggers additional security checks for passengers after her overseas travel and foreign connections set off a government algorithm earlier this year, according to three sources familiar with the situation.
However, Gabbard was swiftly removed from the “Quiet Skies” list after making public claims that she had been added to a “secret terror watchlist.” A federal official familiar with the program clarified that there are specific criteria for adding or removing individuals from the list, and no one is taken off due to public statements they make.
Tulsi Gabbard’s foreign travels and outspoken politics lead to her temporary inclusion on TSA’s Quiet Skies list
Gabbard contended that her placement on the list followed critical comments she made about then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris during an interview with Fox News. Two of the sources, however, strongly denied that this had any connection to her being flagged.
In a post on X in September, Gabbard expressed her frustration: “The TSA placed me on the Quiet Skies domestic terror watchlist in what I can only describe as the ultimate betrayal. The Harris-Biden regime has now labeled me a domestic terror threat. Why? They see me as a threat to their power.”
This incident has raised concerns among security experts, particularly given Gabbard’s history of unconventional foreign relationships. In 2017, while serving as a congresswoman, she traveled to Syria to meet with President Bashar al-Assad, bypassing official diplomatic channels.
Though the reasons behind Gabbard’s inclusion on the Quiet Skies list may be innocent, sources suggest, the fact that a high-profile nominee—especially one considered for director of national intelligence—was placed on a government watchlist is unusual, if not unprecedented, according to multiple US officials.
Typically, Gabbard would be expected to explain her foreign travels and contacts during a background check. However, Trump has suggested he might forgo standard background checks for his top nominees, raising concerns over whether Gabbard will be asked to disclose this information or if national security officials will even have the chance to evaluate her conduct.
The Quiet Skies program, which analyzes travel patterns, foreign connections, and other data from government sources, can trigger additional security screening by Air Marshals at airports. However, it is not linked to the FBI’s terrorist watchlist. Multiple security officials told CNN that the program is known within the government for having more lenient criteria for inclusion.
While the TSA would not confirm Gabbard’s presence on the list, it emphasized that the Quiet Skies program is not a terrorist watchlist. “TSA uses multi-layered security processes to protect the nation’s transportation systems and ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce,” the agency stated. “TSA’s Quiet Skies program is a risk-based, automated approach to transportation security, including identifying potential risks and applying enhanced security measures.”
CNN national security analyst Carrie Cordero described the program as “a screening mechanism” based on various indicators, designed to flag individuals for extra security checks before domestic flights. The goal, she explained, is to ensure the individual is safe to board the plane.
This incident adds another layer of uncertainty surrounding Gabbard’s nomination, which has already raised concerns due to her unorthodox foreign policy views and public statements that critics argue align with Russian talking points, leaving some GOP senators uneasy.
