Detroit Metro Airport Stops Playing Video Blaming Democrats for Government Shutdown

Airport officials at Detroit Metro Airport have taken action after being asked to stop playing a video that blames Congressional Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown. The video in question features Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and has been displayed in some Michigan airports, but not others. The Wayne County Airport Authority issued a statement noting that it had asked the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to stop playing the video, citing concerns about partisanship and the potential for disruptions to airport operations. The TSA has its own internal communications system and has the discretion to air federally distributed content independent of the Airport Authority.

Key Takeaways:

• The video in question features Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and blames Congressional Democrats for the government shutdown.
• The Wayne County Airport Authority has asked the TSA to stop playing the video, citing concerns about partisanship and potential disruptions to airport operations.
• The TSA has its own internal communications system and has the discretion to air federally distributed content independent of the Airport Authority.
• The video has been displayed in some Michigan airports, but not others, including Gerald R. Ford International Airport and Flint Bishop International Airport.
• The video features Noem saying that Democrats in government have refused to fund the federal government, which has resulted in most TSA employees working without pay.
• The airport is also displaying signs at the entrances of TSA checkpoints that read: "The views expressed in this TSA controlled video do not represent the views of the Wayne County Airport Authority. The Wayne county airport authority does not engage in partisan politics. Thank You."
• The Trump Administration has been criticized for displaying messages on several federal agencies' websites blaming Democrats for the shutdown, despite the Hatch Act prohibiting federal employees from engaging in partisan political activities while on duty.
• Public Citizen has filed legal challenges against nine government agencies for violating the Hatch Act, while the Center for Biological Diversity has filed complaints against the US Forest Service and the Department of Health and Human Services.
• Democracy Defenders Fund has filed two letters with the Government Accountability Office calling for an investigation into whether the US Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Treasury, Agriculture, Justice, State, and Health and Human Services violated the Anti-Deficiency Act and other bans against using federal funds for political propaganda.

Statistics:

• Thousands of flights have been delayed across the country due to the government shutdown.
• Most TSA employees are working without pay due to the government shutdown.
• The TSA has its own internal communications system and has the discretion to air federally distributed content independent of the Airport Authority.
• The Wayne County Airport Authority has asked the TSA to stop playing the video in six airport screens across the airport.
• The video has been displayed in at least four Michigan airports, but not others.

Sources:

• "Video of Noem faulting Democrats for shutdown absent from some Michigan airports" - Michigan Advance
• "Seven more complaints filed for Trump administration Hatch Act violation" - Public Citizen
• "Hatch Act complaint filed against agencies blaming Democrats for shutdown" - Center for Biological Diversity
• "Letters to GAO call for investigation into Trump administration Hatch Act violation" - Democracy Defenders Fund
• "Thousands of flight delays reported across the country due to government shutdown" - Reuters
• "US air traffic staffing issues continue despite shutdown negotiations" - Reuters
• "Democrats push back against Trump administration's shutdown messaging" - Democrats' Newsroom