Airports Refuse to Air Partisan Video of Homeland Security Secretary Blaming Democrats

Several airports across the United States, including those serving Buffalo, New York, and Portland, Oregon, have refused to air a video produced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown. The video, which was intended to be played at every public airport in America, has been deemed to potentially violate internal policies or state or federal laws that ban political messaging. Air traffic control staffing shortages and bad weather have contributed to nearly 7,000 flight delays within, into, or out of the U.S. on Monday alone.

Key Takeaways:

• At least seven airports, including those in Buffalo, Charlotte, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle, and Portland, have refused to air the video, citing potential violations of internal policies or state or federal laws.
• The video, produced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, blames Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown and claims that TSA employees are working without pay due to Democrat's refusal to fund the federal government.
• Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins described the video as "unnecessarily alarmist" and said it was "inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation's top public officials."
• Despite the refusals, the Trump administration has continued to use federal platforms to repeat Republican talking points blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
• The government shutdown has resulted in tens of thousands of flight delays, many connected to staffing shortages at air traffic control towers.
• A lawsuit has been filed against the Trump administration, claiming it is making "a mockery of statutory prohibitions like the Hatch Act" by replacing employees' out-of-office emails with partisan language blaming Democratic senators for the shutdown.

Statistics:

• 7,000 flight delays within, into, or out of the U.S. on Monday alone, according to FlightAware.
• The government has been shutdown for nearly three weeks.
• At least seven airports have refused to air the video produced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
• The TSA has been impacted, with many employees working without pay due to Democrat's refusal to fund the federal government, according to the video.
• Tens of thousands of flight delays have been reported since the government shutdown began.

Sources:

• The Washington Post
• FlightAware
• The U.S. Office of Special Counsel
• Department of Housing and Urban Development