The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released explosive new evidence Wednesday revealing how the Transportation Security Agency’s (TSA) watchlisting program was weaponized for political purposes during the Biden administration.
Internal documents and correspondence exposed a two-tiered system where Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) secured special treatment for her husband while federal air marshals simultaneously conducted surveillance operations against Biden administration critics.
Billy Shaheen, married to the Democrat senator, received enhanced screening after traveling with an individual classified as a known or suspected terrorist.
His wife immediately intervened to protect him from standard security protocols.
Sen. Shaheen first contacted TSA officials in July 2023 following her husband’s flagging during two separate flights.
The Democrat lawmaker’s intervention produced swift results for her family member.
Records demonstrate that Billy Shaheen obtained an exemption just two days after Sen. Shaheen contacted TSA Administrator David Pekoske in October 2023.
The senator specifically requested what documents describe as a “blank exemption” for her husband.
TSA leadership granted Billy Shaheen placement on the agency’s Secure Flight Exclusion List later that month. This designation prevented surveillance of his travel activities for the next 18 months until April 2024.
The exemption remained in effect despite Billy Shaheen’s documented travel history with suspected terrorists.
DHS findings reveal he flew with a Known or Suspected Terrorist on three separate occasions during this period, Trending Politics (TP) reported.
“After Senator Shaheen directly lobbied the former Administrator, Pekoske gave repeated, explicit direction to exclude Shaheen from the Silent Partner Quiet Skies list. Pekoske granted Billy Shaheen a blanket Silent Partners Quiet Skies exemption despite Shaheen flying with a Known or Suspected Terrorist on three occasions,” the DHS announcement stated.
While the Shaheen family received preferential treatment, TSA resources were simultaneously deployed against political opponents of the Biden administration.
Federal air marshals conducted extensive surveillance operations targeting administration critics.
Current National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard became a primary target of these surveillance efforts, Resist the Mainstream previously reported.
Federal agents monitored her domestic travel activities throughout 2024, documenting detailed observations of her behavior and activities.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) confirmed these targeting operations during congressional testimony last month.
“These documents confirm our suspicions. Federal air marshals surveilled the now-director of national intelligence during domestic flights in 2024, reporting back information related to her appearance and even how many electronics she was observed using. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case,” Paul revealed, per TP.
The surveillance program extended beyond individual political figures to encompass broader categories of American citizens.
Sonya LaBosco, director of the Air Marshal National Council, disclosed that agents received orders to monitor anyone who traveled to Washington D.C. during January 2021.
LaBosco testified that standard security missions were abandoned to focus on political targeting.
“We’re not doing our regular missions where we’re out there looking for the bad guys. So, right now, on most flights, you’re not gonna have Air Marshals,” she explained.
The agency redirected significant resources toward following what LaBosco termed “January 2021 people.”
These surveillance operations continued for years after the initial travel occurred, regardless of any criminal activity or investigations.
LaBosco clarified that targets did not need to participate in Capitol events or political rallies to warrant surveillance.
“You did not have to go to the Capitol or the rally, and you’ve been put on a specific list that TSA now has assigned Air Marshals to follow these people who have not had any type of criminal investigation, they have not committed a crime, but yet three years later, we’re following the same individuals day in and day out,” LaBosco said.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem condemned the program’s political weaponization in her official statement.
“It is clear that this program was used as a political rolodex of the Biden Administration — weaponized against its political foes and to benefit their well-heeled friends,” Noem declared.
Secretary Noem emphasized that security programs should operate without political bias or favoritism.
“This program should have been about the equal application of security, instead it was corrupted to be about political targeting,” she said.
“The Trump Administration will restore the integrity, privacy, and equal application of the law for all Americans, including aviation screening.”
