The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has shut down “Quiet Skies,” a secretive surveillance program used to monitor travelers flagged for political reasons or vague security criteria. According to exclusive reporting from the New York Post, the system enabled federal marshals to tail individuals across airports and flights without court warrants.
What began as a post-9/11 security measure turned into a sprawling domestic spy network. Under Donald Trump’s leadership, “Quiet Skies” allegedly shifted focus to ideological opponents, activists, and journalists. Agents filed behavioral reports on targets’ bathroom visits, reading habits, and seating choices.
The program’s quiet end isn’t an admission of wrongdoing—it’s a strategic withdrawal. DHS officials cited “resource realignment,” not ethical failings. Civil liberties groups say the shutdown is too little, too late. “This isn’t a policy change,” said one ACLU attorney. “It’s an authoritarian tactic being retired once exposed.”
The legacy of Quiet Skies is a blueprint for modern surveillance: opaque, unchecked, and deeply invasive. And with rising calls for Trump’s third term, critics fear the program—or something worse—could soon return.