Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump's pick to lead the intelligence community, was briefly placed on a Transportation Security Administration list that prompts additional security screening before flights after her overseas travel patterns and foreign connections triggered a government algorithm earlier this year, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

Gabbard was quickly removed from the list, a little-known program called "Quiet Skies," after going public with claims she had been added to a "secret terror watchlist.".....

The Quiet Skies algorithm looks at travel patterns, foreign connections and other data in a variety of government holdings, and if triggered, leads to additional security screening at the airport by Air Marshals. But it is not associated with the FBI's terrorist watch list. Security officials from multiple agencies told CNN that the program is known inside the government for having far laxer standards for inclusion.

TSA would not confirm Gabbard was on the list when asked by CNN but noted the program "is not a terrorist watchlist."

"TSA uses multi-layered security processes to protect the nation's transportation systems and ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce," the agency said in a statement. "TSA's Quiet Skies program is a risk-based, automated approach to transportation security, to include identifying potential risks and applying enhanced security measures."

The statement continued: "TSA's Quiet Skies program is not a terrorist watchlist. It leverages USG intelligence information and databases to apply screening measures."