Airports won't play Noem video in TSA check-in lines amid shutdown, arguing it's a political message

Several U.S. airports are not playing a video by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in security lines during the government shutdown, arguing it's a political message.

They argue such a message could be in violation of a federal law known as the Hatch Act that prohibits political efforts on federal time on money, according to CNN.

The airports include Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International, Portland International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and three in New York.

The video is supposed to play at Transportation Security Administration security flight check-inlines. 

Noem says in the video, “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.”

A spokesperson for the Port of Portland, which operates Portland International Airport, Hillsboro Airport, and Troutdale Airport, told CNN that it had received a request from the TSA to display the video message.

“We 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,” said Molly Prescott, spokesperson for the Port of Portland.

She also said that under Oregon law no public employee can promote or oppose any political committee, party or affiliation.

The Hatch Act prohibits political activities of federal employees to ensure the nonpartisan administration of government programs.

Airport TSA checkpoints often include videos of government officials welcoming travelers and explanations of procedures.

A Port of Seattle spokesperson told CNN that Seattle-Tacoma International Airport will not play the video “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 during the shutdown,” the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for Charlotte Douglas International Airport told CNN that the Noem video was not permitted under North Carolina municipal law and the airport’s policies, and that “TSA does not own any monitors at the airport’s checkpoints.”

In Westchester County, just north of New York City, County Executive Ken Jenkins said in a statement that the airport will not display the video either.

“The PSA politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA Operations, and the County finds the tone to be unnecessarily alarmist,” Jenkins said. “It is inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

A Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority spokesperson, which operates Niagara Falls International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport, told CNN the decision to not show the video was based on NFTA’s “long-standing policy” banning “partisan messaging in its facilities.”

A spokesperson for Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas told CNN in a statement it “declined” to air the video 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.”

Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix declined to play the video, saying airport policy does not allow political content.

The Department of Homeland Security told CNN in a statement on Tuesday, “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.”