Privilege has its perks. In 2023, William Shaheen, husband of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, found himself snagged by a TSA watchlist, only to be swiftly sprung after a single phone call from his powerful spouse. This tale of elite influence reeks of a system bending over backward for the well-connected.
When Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 1,200, Mr. Shaheen, a Lebanese-American attorney, was flagged by TSA’s Quiet Skies program and later placed on a “secure flight exclusion list” after his lawmaker spouse's intervention, as CBS News reports. The episode, unfolding in a tense security climate, raises questions about fairness in surveillance. A senator’s clout shouldn’t trump national security protocols.
The Quiet Skies program, launched in 2010, uses facial recognition, travel patterns, and undercover marshals to monitor potential threats. William Shaheen faced extra screening in July 2023 at Boston’s airport, which TSA called “random.” Random, sure -- until you’re married to a senator.
By October 2023, Shaheen’s travel companion, an Arab American attorney, was flagged as a “known or suspected terrorist” by the FBI. This triggered TSA’s scrutiny, including a federal air marshal tailing Shaheen on an Oct. 18 flight. Sounds like serious business -- unless you’ve got a senator on speed dial.
Sen. Shaheen contacted TSA Administrator David Pekoske to discuss her husband’s plight. “[She] contacted TSA after her husband was subjected to several extensive, invasive, and degrading searches,” her spokesperson claimed this week. Invasive? Try the standard procedure for most travelers.
By Oct. 20, 2023, William Shaheen was added to the “secure flight exclusion list,” exempting him from further vetting or random checks. TSA even ensured his boarding passes reflected this VIP status. Equal treatment under the law? Not quite.
The senator’s spokesperson insisted that Shaheen “wasn’t aware” her husband was under Quiet Skies or received preferential treatment. Ignorance is a convenient excuse when you’re pulling strings behind the scenes. The public deserves transparency, not feigned surprise.
Shaheen’s travel companion was later cleared from the FBI’s terrorism watchlist in 2023. Yet, William Shaheen’s special status persisted until June 3, 2025, when a DHS official confirmed his removal from the exclusion list. How nice to have your record wiped clean -- most Americans aren’t so lucky.
The Quiet Skies program isn’t just for obscure attorneys; it’s snared bigger names. Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed as director of national intelligence in 2024, was monitored and searched under the same program. No senator swooped in to save her, though.
Sen. Shaheen’s spokesperson declined to name the travel companion, describing them only as “an Arab American attorney.” They added that the senator had “no indication” the companion was a suspected terrorist. That’s a bold claim when TSA’s radar was flashing red.
This incident unfolded as Shaheen announced she won’t seek reelection in 2026. Her daughter, Stefany, is now running for a U.S. House seat. Political dynasties and special favors -- business as usual in Washington.
The TSA’s Quiet Skies program is meant to keep Americans safe, not to be sidestepped by a senator’s phone call. When William Shaheen was flagged, the system worked -- until it didn’t. Elite influence undermined a process designed to protect us all.
Ordinary travelers endure long lines, pat-downs, and scrutiny without complaint. Yet, one call from a senator, and her husband skips the hassle. This isn’t fairness; it’s favoritism dressed up as procedure.
The timing -- post-Hamas attack -- makes this even more galling. While TSA tightened security for everyone else, Shaheen’s husband got a free pass. National security shouldn’t have a VIP lane.
Americans deserve a system where rules apply equally, not one where clout clears checkpoints. Sen. Shaheen’s intervention exposes a troubling truth: in Washington, who you know matters more than what you’ve done. That’s not security -- it’s politics.
