Tensions are high as Hawaii representatives seek answers from the TSA about Tulsi Gabbard's unexpected addition to a watchlist.
According to Island News, a coalition of Hawaiian lawmakers has formally questioned the TSA on the merits of former Representative Tulsi Gabbard's placement on a terrorist watchlist.
In late July, Tulsi Gabbard, a former U.S. congresswoman and a current U.S. Army service member, was placed on the Quiet Skies Program, managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
This program aims to track travelers who might pose a risk to aviation security. Since her listing, Gabbard has faced stringent security checks at airports, which she describes as severe and harassing.
The inquiry into Gabbard's watchlist inclusion was prompted by a letter penned to TSA Director David Pekoske, signed by Hawaii State Representatives Gene Ward, Diamond Garcia, David Alcos, and Elijah Pierick, all of whom are Republicans. They demand clarity on why Gabbard was added to such a controversial list with her distinguished service record and no public infractions.
Tulsi Gabbard believes her addition to the Quiet Skies list was an act of political payback, not a measured security decision.
Gabbard's placement on the watchlist corresponds timing-wise with the aftermath of her critical prime-time interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. She conjectured that this was a direct consequence of her outspoken views during the televised segment.
Gabbard expressed her disillusionment and dismay over the situation, recalling her military service, which began in response to 9/11.
This is an act of political retaliation. It’s no accident that I was placed on the Quiet Skies list the day after I did a prime-time interview warning the American people about how why Kamala Harris would be bad for our country if elected as president and commander-in-chief. What hurts me the most is the fact that like so many Americans I enlisted because of the terrorist attack on 9/11, deployed to war zones to go after those terrorists, still serve in the US Army for over 21 years, and now my government is surveilling me as a potential domestic terrorist.
The TSA's Quiet Skies Program has been operational since 2012, focusing on placing air marshals on flights with individuals who are considered a threat but have not been charged with any crimes. The TSA defends its procedures, stating that the Program is a critical component in a multi-layered approach to security.
A TSA spokesperson explained:
TSA uses multi-layered security processes to protect the nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce. TSA’s Quiet Skies program uses a risk-based approach to identify passengers and apply enhanced security measures on some domestic and outbound international flights. To safeguard sensitive national security measures, TSA does not confirm or deny whether any individual has matched to a risk-based rule.
The representatives from Hawaii are particularly troubled by what they see as an unjust label that impacts Gabbard's reputation, urging the TSA to uphold American values of fairness and transparency.
In summary, the situation raises profound questions about the balance between national security and the protection of individual civil liberties. The outcome of the Hawaiian lawmakers' query to the TSA could potentially influence future oversight and operational transparency of the Quiet Skies Program.
