An internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) investigation has revealed that during the Biden administration, some American citizens who refused to comply with COVID-19 mask mandates were placed on federal no-fly lists.
The investigation documented that 19 Americans were flagged between September 30, 2021, and October 25, 2021.
More than half of those individuals received no-fly designations, barring them from boarding domestic flights during that period.
The no-fly list is traditionally reserved for individuals suspected of terrorism or posing threats to national security.
Its use against citizens resisting mask mandates raised questions inside and outside the agency.
The probe found that at least 11 of the individuals remained on federal watchlists until April 2022.
That same month, a federal court struck down the federal mask mandate, effectively requiring the Biden administration to stop enforcing mask requirements on airplanes.
The revelations were first reported by Fox News, which obtained details of the DHS investigation.
The disclosures triggered swift responses from agency officials and members of Congress.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem issued a statement sharply criticizing the actions taken by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
“Biden’s TSA wildly abused their authority,” Noem said.
Hellbound and Down 