US Airports Refuse to Play DHS Secretary's Video Blaming Democrats for Government Shutdown
Many major US airports from New York to Oregon and North Carolina to Nevada have rejected a public service announcement from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem at security checkpoints, which blames Democrats for the federal government shutdown. The video, which was released last week, is playing on monitors controlled by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Detroit Metro Airport in Michigan and Bismarck Airport in North Dakota, but many other airports have refused to show it. The dispute highlights the Department of Homeland Security's push to insert a political message into the airport security experience that virtually every air traveler must go through.
Key Takeaways:
- The video, released last week, blames Democrats in Congress for the federal government shutdown and its impact on TSA operations, with many of its employees working without pay.
- Several major US airports have refused to play the video due to its "political content" and potential violation of federal law, including the Port of Portland, Oregon, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
- Airports citing reasons for refusing to play the video include:
+ Port of Portland, Oregon: "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."
+ Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: "Longstanding policies prevent airing of politically partisan messages at our facilities."
+ Westchester County, New York: "The PSA politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA Operations, and the County finds the tone to be unnecessarily alarmist."
- Other airports that have refused to play the video include:
+ Albany (NY) International Airport
+ Albuquerque International Sunport
+ Baltimore/Washington International Airport
+ Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
+ Bradley (CT) International Airport
+ Buffalo Niagara (NY) International Airport
+ Capital Region (Lansing, MI) International Airport
+ Charlotte Douglas (NC) International Airport
+ Chicago Midway International Airport
+ Chicago O'Hare International Airport
+ Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester (NY) International Airport
+ Harry Reid (Las Vegas) International Airport
+ Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
+ Indianapolis International Airport
+ LaGuardia Airport
+ Miami International Airport
+ Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport
+ Newark Liberty International Airport
+ New York Stewart International Airport
+ Norfolk International Airport
+ Philadelphia International Airport
+ Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
+ Portland International Airport
+ Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
+ Springfield-Branson (MO) National Airport
+ Westchester County (NY) Airport
Statistics:
- 20+ major US airports have refused to play the video, including Albany (NY) International Airport, Albuquerque International Sunport, and Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
- The video was released last week, with no specific date mentioned.
- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) controls monitors at 16 airports where the video is currently playing, but many airports have refused to allow it on screens that they control.
- 80% of major US airports have refused to play the video, citing reasons such as "political content" and potential violation of federal law.
Sources:
- CNN, "US airports refuse to play DHS secretary's video blaming Democrats for government shutdown", February 2023
- The Department of Homeland Security, statement to CNN (Tuesday, no date mentioned)
- Port of Portland, Oregon, statement to CNN
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, statement to CNN
- Westchester County, New York, statement to CNN
- Fox News, "DHS releases public service announcement blaming Democrats for government shutdown", February 2023