FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 26th, 2025
Contact: HSGACPress_Paul@hsgac.senate.gov, (202) 224-4163
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN7), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, sent a letter to the Acting Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), renewing demands for answers related to the inclusion of Tulsi Gabbard in the agency’s Quiet Skies program and reported misuse of Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS).
The bicameral letter builds on Dr. Paul’s August 21, 2024 request letter to which TSA has failed to provide any substantive response.
The joint letter cites recent disclosures indicating that TSA, under the Biden administration, may have engaged unwarranted screening of individuals based on political beliefs, travel patterns, or other non-security-related factors. Such revelations raise the alarming possibility that Federal Air Marshals may have been directed to surveil U.S. citizens in the absence of any credible or articulable threat to aviation security.
The lawmakers remind TSA in their letter that “congressional oversight is not optional. It is a fundamental part of ensuring that security measures are properly implemented without infringing on civil liberties.” The letter further emphasizes the need for transparency surrounding TSA’s intelligence-based justifications for surveillance missions, especially those that may involve subjective criteria or ideological targeting.
The full letter can be found HERE or below:
Dear Acting Administrator Stahl:
We write today to reiterate longstanding congressional oversight requests regarding the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Quiet Skies program and the Federal Air Marshal Service’s (FAMS) surveillance of high-risk travelers and flights, including the intelligence-based justifications for Special Mission Coverage and other FAMS mission assignments. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) first requested this information under the Biden administration on August 21, 2024, and reiterated the request on January 30, 2025.To date, however, TSA has not provided a substantive response.
Recent disclosures suggest that TSA, under the Biden administration, may have engaged in unwarranted screening of individuals based on political beliefs, travel patterns, or other non-security-related factors. This is a deeply troubling prospect that demands immediate and unequivocal clarification. Given the gravity of these concerns and TSA’s delay in responding to previous inquiries, the House Committee on Homeland Security now formally joins this oversight effort to ensure TSA provides the requested information in a timely manner. The American people deserve to know that the policies governing their security are applied fairly, lawfully, and without political or ideological bias.
We understand that transitioning leadership and managing national security priorities are significant undertakings, and we appreciate the work TSA does to keep Americans safe. However, congressional oversight is not optional. It is a fundamental part of ensuring that security measures are properly implemented without infringing on civil liberties. We are confident that under your leadership, TSA will engage in constructive dialogue and provide the requested information.
To that end, we reiterate HSGAC’s previous requests and ask that TSA submit a complete response. Additionally, given the sensitive nature of this matter, we request that TSA provide a classified briefing to both Committees. This briefing should include a comprehensive overview of the Quiet Skies Program, FAMS Special Mission Coverage, and any related policies governing the identification and monitoring of certain high-risk travelers.
We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to working with you to ensure transparency and accountability in these critical programs.
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