With the government shutdown nearing its fourth week and Republican and Democratic lawmakers in a continued deadlock over how to reopen it, dozens of airports across the country are choosing not to air a video in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blames Democrats exclusively for the delays and lack of funding.
“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,” Noem says in the 30-second clip that Homeland Security put out for U.S. airports to play to travelers waiting to pass security.
“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.”
The shutdown arose because Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on a spending bill for the rest of the year. Democrats are asking for an extension of expiring health insurance credits to those set to lose Medicaid under the bill passed in July.
Meanwhile, Republicans have falsely claimed that only illegal immigrants will lose insurance. The partisan message is highly unusual for a government agency, and according to many legal experts, violates both state and federal law, including the Hatch Act that requires agencies to operate with impartiality.
Airports in Oregon, California, Texas, North Carolina, Washington among those not airing Noem video
Airports across the country have refused to air Secretary Noem’s message on their airport screens. According to the latest trackers, 10 of the largest airports and one-third of all others in the U.S. are choosing not to air it, due to its explicitly political messaging.
The busiest airport in both the U.S. and the world, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) said it “will not display the recently distributed video from DHS on airport-controlled media” because it “strives to maintain a neutral and welcoming environment for all travelers.”
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North Carolina, Oregon airports say playing Noem video “would violate the law”
The port authority overseeing Portland International Airport (PDX) said that it does “not consent to playing the video in its current form” and believes “consenting to playing this video on Port assets would violate Oregon law.”
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Dallas Love Field (DLF), along with the Chicago Department of Aviation, which oversees both O’Hare (ORD) and Chicago Midway (CMD), released similar statements about why they will not air the video.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (overseeing JFK, LGA, and Newark Liberty), Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, and Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) have also confirmed their refusal over the last few days, as have all airports in California.
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“North Carolina municipal law as well as CLT Airport’s policy for digital content do not permit the referenced video,” Charlotte Douglas International said in a statement.
Smaller airports that also refused to air the video include Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), Buffalo Niagara (BUF), Niagara Falls International (IAG), Spokane International (GEG), and Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE), among dozens of other small and mid-size airports.
Related: National parks with no workers: how the shutdown affects your plans
