Senator Rand Paul exposed a disturbing abuse of government power where federal air marshals were secretly monitoring the travel of Trump’s intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard after she dared to criticize the Biden administration.
Key Takeaways
- Sen. Rand Paul revealed federal air marshals surveilled Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, on domestic flights in 2024
- Gabbard was placed on the TSA’s Quiet Skies watchlist after criticizing the Biden administration in July 2024
- Air marshals documented details about Gabbard’s appearance and electronic device usage during flights
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed finding thousands of documents proving government involvement in censorship
- Paul condemned the surveillance as political weaponization of intelligence agencies against American citizens
Government Surveillance of Trump Cabinet Member Exposed
In a shocking revelation during a Department of Homeland Security budget hearing in May 2025, Senator Rand Paul disclosed that federal air marshals had been secretly monitoring Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard during her domestic flights throughout 2024. The surveillance reportedly began after Gabbard criticized the Biden administration during a July 2024 interview, leading to her placement on the TSA’s controversial “Quiet Skies” watchlist. This program, ostensibly designed to prevent terrorist threats, was instead used to track a loyal American public servant whose only crime appeared to be expressing political views contrary to the previous administration.
According to Senator Paul, newly obtained records confirmed that air marshals documented extensive details about Gabbard during her travels, including personal information about her appearance and how she used electronic devices. These revelations have raised serious concerns about the weaponization of federal agencies against political opponents, a troubling pattern that became increasingly common during the Biden years. The systematic targeting of Gabbard, who now serves as President Trump’s Director of National Intelligence, represents a dangerous overreach of government surveillance powers against American citizens.
Pattern of Political Targeting and Censorship
During testimony before the Senate committee, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem acknowledged finding thousands of documents that proved government involvement in censorship and the policing of speech during the previous administration. This admission lends credibility to Senator Paul’s concerns about the politicization of intelligence agencies. The targeting of Gabbard appears to be part of a broader pattern where federal agencies were weaponized against individuals who challenged the political narrative of the Biden administration, raising serious constitutional questions about freedom of speech and unlawful surveillance.
Secretary Noem’s testimony highlighted the Trump administration’s commitment to ending government-sponsored censorship that had been carried out by DHS personnel. The revelation that both the TSA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, both operating under DHS oversight, were potentially involved in monitoring American citizens based on their political views represents a fundamental violation of civil liberties that the current administration has vowed to address. The placement of Gabbard on a watchlist typically reserved for potential terrorist threats simply for exercising her First Amendment rights signals how far government overreach had progressed.
Gabbard’s Personal Experience and Aftermath
Gabbard herself has expressed significant concerns about being subjected to this level of government surveillance. She noted unusual security measures during her travels in 2024, describing a pattern of enhanced scrutiny that made her uncomfortable but whose purpose was unclear at the time. The revelation that she was specifically targeted after criticizing the Biden administration confirms her suspicions that the additional security checks were politically motivated rather than driven by legitimate security concerns. This personal experience with government overreach gives Gabbard unique insight in her current role overseeing the nation’s intelligence apparatus.
Senator Paul has demanded that the Department of Homeland Security address these abuses and provide a comprehensive report on any personnel actions, including firings, related to these surveillance activities. His focus on accountability represents an important step toward preventing similar abuses in the future. The Trump administration’s approach to reforming these agencies will be critical in restoring Americans’ faith in government institutions that are meant to protect citizens, not spy on them for political purposes. Fox News Digital reported that DHS has not yet responded to requests for comment on these serious allegations.
