At least seven major airports have refused to display a video message from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that directly blames Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown.
The 37-second video was intended to play at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints. However, it has sparked pushback from airport officials. Officials cited concerns about political messaging and possible violations of laws banning partisan activity, The Washington Post reported.
The standoff highlights growing tensions as the federal government shutdown continues into its second week. Around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers are required to work without pay, per Fox Business reporting. This has strained the nation’s air travel system during one of its busiest seasons.
Airports Cite Legal And Policy Concerns For Refusal
Officials at multiple major transportation hubs have declined to air the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) video for various reasons. Portland International Airport declined to play the video because “we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes and messaging,” according to Port of Portland spokesperson Molly Prescott, as reported by CNN.
Similarly, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport refused to display the message “due to the political nature of the content,” while continuing to “urge bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown.”
In New York, multiple airports, including those operated by Westchester County and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, rejected the video. Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins stated that “the PSA politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown” and called it “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport, cited “longstanding policies prevent airing of politically partisan messages at our facilities.”
Content Of Kristi Noem Video
The disputed video features Secretary Noem directly attributing blame for the shutdown to congressional Democrats. In the message, Noem states: “It is TSA’s top priority to make sure that you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience as possible while we keep you safe. However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are working without pay.”
The video continues with Noem expressing “hope” that “Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government,” according to reporting from Axios. The backdrop to this dispute is the escalating impact of the government shutdown on air travel nationwide. The situation has already caused flight delays at multiple airports across the nation.
