Major Airports Reject Kristi Noem’s Shutdown Video, Citing Politics

UPDATE: Multiple major U.S. airports are refusing to air a video featuring U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, which blames Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown. The video, intended for display at security lines, has been rejected by airports including Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Portland International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

The video, first reported by Fox News, features Noem stating, “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.” She then claims, “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.”

This urgent situation is developing rapidly, as airports across the nation grapple with the implications of the federal shutdown, which has left many federal employees working without compensation.

A spokesperson for Port of Portland, which oversees several airports in the area, confirmed the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requested the video be shown. However, they declined, citing the Hatch Act, which prohibits political messaging in government communications. “We did not consent to playing the video in its current form,” said Molly Prescott, spokesperson for the Port of Portland.

The Hatch Act of 1939 aims to ensure nonpartisan administration of government programs, and Prescott emphasized that Oregon law also restricts public employees from promoting or opposing political parties.

Similarly, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport announced it would not air the video due to its political content. A spokesperson stated, “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.”

The rejection continues in North Carolina, where Charlotte Douglas International Airport indicated that the video’s content violated municipal laws and airport policies. “TSA does not own any monitors at the airport’s checkpoints,” a spokesperson confirmed.

In Westchester County, New York, officials echoed these sentiments, stating that the video “politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA Operations.” County Executive Ken Jenkins expressed that the tone of the video is “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

Additionally, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, which oversees Niagara Falls International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport, also declined to air the video, citing a long-standing policy against partisan messaging in their facilities.

The situation is fluid, with no confirmation that any airport has agreed to display Noem’s video. As the government shutdown continues, the implications of this political messaging refusal highlight the ongoing tensions between federal officials and airport authorities.

As the developments unfold, travelers and federal employees alike are left to navigate the implications of the shutdown, which has significant impacts on TSA operations and the overall airport experience.

Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.