Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s video message for travelers about the government shutdown is not being aired in at least five airports because it blames Democrats for the lapse in federal funding.
Oregon’s Portland International Airport, Washington’s Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and three airports in New York – Niagara Falls International Airport, Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Westchester County Airport – are not broadcasting Noem’s message because it is “political” and “inappropriate,” according to multiple reports.
“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,” Noem says in the video, meant to play at TSA checkpoints in every public airport in the US amid the government shutdown.
“And because of this, many of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA employees are working without pay,” the DHS secretary adds.
Noem, who oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), sent the video to airports last week.
“We will continue to do all that we can to avoid delays that will impact your travel,” Noem continues. “And our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”
The partial government shutdown began on Oct. 1, after all-but-three Senate Democrats refused to vote for a continuing resolution that would’ve kept Washington funded through Nov. 21.
A Port of Seattle spokesperson said the “political nature” of Noem’s video is why it won’t be playing for travelers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
“The Port of Seattle will not play the video on its screens at SEA airport, due to the political nature of the content,” the spokesperson told The Seattle Times, adding, “We continue to urge bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown and are working to find ways to support federal employees working without pay at SEA during the shutdown.”
A Portland International Airport official argued that the video might violate the Hatch Act, which restricts federal employees from engaging in certain political activities.
“We didn’t consent to playing it, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits using public assets for political purposes and messaging,” the official told a local ABC News affiliate.
“Additionally, Oregon law states that no public employee can promote or oppose any political committee, party, or affiliation. We believe consenting to playing this video on Port assets would violate Oregon law,” the official added.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins described Noem’s message as “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”
“The PSA politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA Operations, and the County finds the tone to be unnecessarily alarmist – particularly as it relates to operations at Westchester County Airport,” Jenkins, a Democrat, said in a statement. “This video will not be displayed at Westchester County Airport.”
“At a time when we should be focused on ensuring stability, collaboration and preparedness, this type of messaging only distracts from the real issues, and undermines public trust,” he added. “As County Executive, I believe our residents deserve clear, honest and nonpartisan communication — especially when it comes to national security, government shutdown impacts, and public safety.”
A spokesperson for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), which operates both Niagara Falls International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport, said the video violates NFTA’s “long-standing policy” banning “partisan messaging in its facilities.”
“Therefore, we are not airing this video on airport-controlled screens,” the NFTA spokesperson told a local NBC News affiliate in Western New York.
A DHS spokesperson told The Post that Noem’s public service announcement “is rolling out in airports across the country” and that the department hopes “Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”
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