Imagine boarding a flight only to discover you’re on a federal watchlist—not for any crime, but for your political views. That’s the unsettling reality Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., says he faced during his 2022 campaign for Arizona Attorney General, pointing fingers at the Biden administration for what he calls a blatant abuse of power.
Hamadeh’s story, alongside mounting evidence of federal overreach, paints a troubling picture of agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) being weaponized against conservative figures, as Just The News reports.
This saga began in late 2022, when Hamadeh, a former U.S. Army intelligence officer now serving on the House Armed Services Committee, was flagged by the TSA while running in a hotly contested election. At the time, he was embroiled in legal challenges over the election results, a situation that drew sharp criticism from media and Democratic leaders who branded him a “threat to democracy.”
Weeks after the election dispute, Hamadeh found himself under TSA scrutiny, a move he insists was no accident. He was recently informed by Sen. Rand Paul’s office that he’d been placed on a federal air travel watchlist during that period.
“This wasn’t just a bureaucratic fluke,” Hamadeh declared, suggesting a calculated effort to intimidate. His words carry weight when you consider the timing—right when his political fight was at its peak. Call it a coincidence if you like, but it smells more like a targeted jab at a conservative voice.
Hamadeh isn’t alone in raising alarms about federal overreach under the Biden administration. He points to other examples, like the FBI monitoring parents at school board meetings, Catholics at mass, and folks opposing pandemic mask rules, as evidence of a pattern. It’s hard not to wonder if dissent is now a ticket to a government blacklist.
The TSA’s “Quiet Skies” program, which Hamadeh was swept into, has come under fire thanks to a damning report from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Paul’s 2024 investigation revealed how this initiative, meant to flag security risks, allegedly morphed into a political surveillance tool.
Take the case of Tulsi Gabbard, former representative and a candidate for Director of National Intelligence, who whistleblowers from the Federal Air Marshal Service reported was listed in Quiet Skies. Her surveillance, documented on at least five flights in 2024, kicked off just a day after she criticized President Biden and Vice President Harris. If that’s not a red flag for political retribution, what is?
Thankfully, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has since terminated the Quiet Skies program, a move Hamadeh hailed as a step toward rebuilding trust. But terminating a program doesn’t erase the damage—or the chilling effect on free speech. When federal tools meant to protect us are turned against us for our beliefs, it’s a betrayal of the highest order.
Hamadeh isn’t just venting frustration; he’s calling for action to ensure this never happens again. “There has to be legislation to prevent this from happening again,” he insisted, arguing that unelected bureaucrats shouldn’t wield national security powers to punish political foes. It’s a fair ask—shouldn’t our government focus on real threats, not manufactured ones?
Sen. Paul’s report and ongoing investigation into TSA practices underscore the urgency of reform. When watchlists become weapons against candidates and critics, democracy itself takes a hit. Conservatives, and frankly all Americans, deserve better than a system that seems to punish dissent over danger.
On a brighter note, Hamadeh expressed hope about recent shifts at the FBI under new leadership, noting a return to core missions like tackling child exploitation. It’s a refreshing change from the politicized overreach he’s endured. Maybe there’s light at the end of this bureaucratic tunnel.
Still, trust in federal agencies remains shaky after stories like Hamadeh’s. When a decorated veteran and sitting congressman can be targeted for his political stances, it sends a message that no one is safe from overzealous oversight.
The Biden administration’s legacy on this front isn’t looking pretty, with mounting evidence of agencies straying from their mandates. Conservatives have long warned about government overreach, and cases like this only fuel the argument that power unchecked is power abused. Let’s hope lawmakers heed Hamadeh’s call for safeguards before more Americans find themselves on a list for simply speaking out.
