TSA Faced Questions over Potential Reliance on GWU Extremism Group for Watchlist Nominations
WASHINGTON D.C. – Senator Rand Paul raised concerns this week about the transportation Security AdministrationS (TSA) watchlist nomination processes, questioning whether the agency relied on recommendations from the George Washington University Program on Extremism to add individuals to the watchlist. The inquiry stemmed from a hearing focused on watchlist reform and follows revelations that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem ended a “Quiet Skies” watchlist in June that previously included former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
The controversy highlights ongoing scrutiny of the government’s watchlist system, which encompasses hundreds of thousands of names across multiple agencies and has long been criticized for its lack of openness and potential for abuse. While concerns about watchlist overreach have historically been voiced by Democrats and civil liberties groups, the recent focus from Republican Senator Paul signals a broadening bipartisan interest in reform.
During the hearing, Paul pressed TSA officials on whether the agency considered details provided by the GWU Program on Extremism when nominating individuals to the watchlist. He specifically referenced the program’s focus on identifying individuals exhibiting “pre-crime” indicators, raising concerns about potential First Amendment violations.
“Are you aware of the Program on Extremism at George Washington university, and have you ever used their assessments in determining who goes on the watchlist?” Paul asked, according to a transcript of the hearing. TSA officials did not directly answer the question.
the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not responded to requests for comment regarding the nature of its relationship with the GWU Program on Extremism or whether the program’s assessments have influenced watchlist nominations. DHS also has not released details about an internal investigation Noem cited as the reason for ending the Quiet Skies watchlist, which included Gabbard, now the Director of National Intelligence.
Concerns about the watchlist system are not new. A 2014 report by The Intercept revealed the watchlist contained hundreds of thousands of names. In 2023, Senator Gary Peters, ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, released a report calling for reforms motivated by concerns raised by Arab and Muslim constituents in Michigan. The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) in January also advocated for revamping the watchlist to make it easier for individuals to learn if they are listed and to challenge their inclusion.
However,oversight mechanisms have been weakened. Former President trump effectively disbanded the PCLOB by firing Democratic members and significantly reduced staffing within a Homeland Security office responsible for investigating civil liberties complaints. Peters stated at the Paul-chaired hearing that internal oversight had been “gutted, eliminating one of the few checks and balances that Americans can use to protect their rights.”
