A growing list of US airports are refusing to play a controversial TSA video at security checkpoints that features Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the continuing government shutdown.
Amongst the airports that have banned the video are Phoenix Sky Harbor and Seattle Tacoma, as well as Las Vegas Harry Reid and Portland International Airport, with some citing the Hatch Act for their decision.
The Hatch Act dates back to 1939 and was introduced in response to growing concerns about political corruption and misuse of government power. The law essentially prevents government officials from using their positions to engage in partisan politics.
Individual states have also introduced similar laws, such as in Oregon, which further limit airports in the state from playing Noem’s video in its current form.
The short 36-second video, which Noem planned to have played on a continuous loop at TSA airport checkpoints across the country, accuses the Democratic Party of refusing to fund the federal government.
Noem states: “Hi, I’m Christine Nome, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. 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.”
“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.”
As the government shutdown enters its third week and federal employees continue to go unpaid, there are increasing concerns that absenteeism amongst the TSA’s massive workforce of 50,000 Transportation Security Officers will begin to dramatically rise.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Harry Reid Airport said the video would not be played because of its “political messaging that did not align with the neutral, informational nature of the public service announcements typically shown at the security checkpoints.”
Other airports to have banned the video include Niagara Falls International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport
All seems fine, but I have to wonder if a Democrat was doing this video, blaming Republicans would they play it or cite the Hatch Act?
It’s interesting that you bring up the hypothetical when democrats have never tried to do this before.
But they didn’t, did they?