Major airports across the country — including in New York City, Chicago and Atlanta — are refusing to play a video featuring Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the impacts of the government shutdown.
Many of the airport representatives said their facility’s policies bar the showing of political content. Some also pointed to the Hatch Act, a law that restricts the political activities of federal employees as well as some state and local employees who are involved in or work in federally funded programs.
The roughly 30-second video began rolling out to airports last week, according to DHS.
“It is TSA’s top priority to make you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience as possible while we keep you safe,” Noem says in the video. “However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the government. And because of this, many of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA employees are working without pay. We will continue to do all that we can to avoid delays that will impact your travel. And our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government. ”
Overall, of the TSA’s roughly 64,000 employees, more than 61,000 are working without pay during the government shutdown, which is now in its second week.
Democrats maintain Republicans shoulder the responsibility for the shutdown, arguing they need to negotiate over health care premiums as part of an effort to come to agreement on federal spending.
Among the airports that have declined to show the DHS video are LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, John F. Kennedy, Charlotte Douglas International, Seattle-Tacoma, San Francisco, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O’ Hare, Phoenix International and Colorado Springs.
“The Port Authority’s longstanding policies prevent airing of politically partisan messages at our facilities, so airports are not airing the video on airport-controlled screens,” The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates New York City’s three major airports, said in a statement.
In a statement, Portland International Airport, in Oregon, said it “did not consent to playing the video in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes and messaging.”.
The statement went on to say: “Additionally, Oregon law states 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.”
Some airports, such as the Akron-Canton airport in northeastern Ohio, said digital video screens at their facilities are designated for “static content that supports wayfinding and essential travel information.”
In response to a request for comment about some airports declining to play the video, DHS provided a statement from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin: “It is TSA’s top priority to ensure that travelers have the most safe, pleasant and efficient airport experience possible. However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, most of our TSA employees are working without pay. While this creates challenges for our people, our security operations remain largely unimpacted at this time. It’s unfortunate our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship. Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”
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