Airports Refuse to Air Kristi Noem Video Blaming Democrats for Government Shutdown

Several major U.S. airports have refused to play a video in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blames congressional Democrats for the government shutdown, and any ensuing travel delays.

Officials at airports serving Buffalo, N.Y.; Charlotte, N.C.; Cleveland, Ohio; Los Angeles; Phoenix; Seattle; and Portland, Ore., said the video could violate both internal policies barring political messaging at airport facilities, and violate state and federal laws that prohibit the use of public resources for political gain, The Washington Post reports.

In the ad, Noem, 53, says, “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.”

Noem continues, “However, Democrats and Congress refused 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. 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.”

“We believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes and messaging,” Molly Prescott, a spokesperson for the Port of Portland, which operates Portland International Airport, told the Post.

The Hatch Act, enacted in 1939, “limits certain political activities of federal employees, as well as some state, D.C., and local government employees who work in connection with federally funded programs,” according to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

Prescott went on to tell the Post that, “This is the first time to our knowledge that the Port has declined to play a video,” adding that Oregon state law also prevents utilizing public resources for political messaging.

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“The Port of Seattle will not play the video on its screens at SEA airport due to the political nature of the content, 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,” a spokesperson for the Port of Seattle told local news outlet KOMO News.

Amid the government shutdown, TSA agents and other employees are still working on schedule, but are not being paid. Nearly 8,000 flights within, into or out of the U.S. were delayed on Sunday, Oct. 12, and another 271 were canceled, according to FlightAware.

Congress failed to reach a funding agreement before the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, resulting in the shutdown, which began nearly two weeks ago.