Sen. Rand Paul revealed that federal air marshals surveilled DNI Tulsi Gabbard on domestic flights in 2024, raising civil liberty concerns.

Senator Discloses Surveillance of High-Level U.S. Official

Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., stated Tuesday that he obtained documents confirming that federal air marshals tracked now-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard during domestic air travel in 2024. The revelation came during a congressional hearing where Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem testified regarding the agency’s 2026 fiscal budget.

“These documents confirm our suspicions,” Paul told the committee. “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.” Paul noted that Gabbard had been placed on the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Quiet Skies watch list, a designation that permits enhanced surveillance of certain U.S. citizens.

The TSA Quiet Skies program allows air marshals to observe travelers who are not under criminal investigation or on any terror watch list, but who display behaviors deemed potentially threatening. The program has faced criticism from privacy advocates and civil liberties groups for its opaque criteria and potential for abuse.

Gabbard Responds to Surveillance Disclosure

Gabbard, who now leads the U.S. intelligence community as Director of National Intelligence, previously acknowledged unusual security experiences during her travels. “As I was traveling, I ended up in 30 to 45 minutes of going through screening every time I would go to the airport to fly,” she told Fox News. “I noticed air marshals, I noticed K-9 teams. There were things that I saw and noticed that were highly unusual.”

She expressed deep concern over the long-term implications of the surveillance. “The deepest pain and harm and stress that’s been caused by this is that, forever going forward, I will always be looking over my shoulder, wondering if and how my government is surveilling me,” she added.

Neither DHS nor the TSA immediately responded to requests for comment on Gabbard’s reported inclusion on the Quiet Skies list.

Broader Concerns About DHS Surveillance Practices

Senator Paul used the disclosure to criticize previous surveillance efforts and to commend the current administration’s stance on curbing censorship. “I commend you and the Trump administration for ending all government-sponsored censorship using DHS personnel,” he said to Noem during the session.

Noem responded by revealing ongoing internal reviews within the DHS. “We have literally found thousands of documents that have proven that they [under the prior administration] were involved in censorship and policing speech,” she testified. “So we will be unveiling these to this committee and making sure we're exposing what CISA was doing with a vast majority of its time.”

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a component of DHS, has come under scrutiny for alleged overreach in content monitoring during the previous administration. Noem stated the agency’s staffing would be reduced to refocus on its core mission. “Many of them were doing work that they shouldn’t have been doing,” she said.

The newly disclosed records raise questions about surveillance protocols, especially concerning high-ranking officials and civil liberties. As the DHS continues its internal assessments and as lawmakers demand greater transparency, broader conversations about governmental authority, privacy, and oversight are likely to intensify in the coming months.