The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused the Biden administration of misusing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to target “innocent American citizens” who exercised their rights, including resisting mask mandates and participating in protests. A joint statement from DHS and the TSA alleged that former TSA Administrator David Pekoske orchestrated a campaign to place individuals on no-fly lists for nonviolent political dissent, citing the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots and mask mandate defiance as justifications.

The investigation uncovered that over 280 people linked to the January 6 protests and 19 individuals who resisted mask mandates were watchlisted despite lacking evidence of wrongdoing. DHS claimed these actions violated aviation security protocols, with officials allegedly ignoring warnings from intelligence experts and the TSA’s own privacy officer. The report also highlighted political bias, noting that the TSA failed to flag individuals involved in violent George Floyd protests, including those who attacked law enforcement and destroyed property.

Additional findings revealed the TSA’s Quiet Skies program surveilled U.S. citizens, including Tulsi Gabbard, now Director of National Intelligence, and Bill Shaheen, husband of Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Documents obtained by the Senate Homeland Security Committee showed three Republican members of Congress were monitored under the program, with some listed before their election. The TSA’s actions, critics argue, reflect systemic abuse of power and a disregard for constitutional rights.