Last week, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem released a video that blames Democrats for slower airport travel times due to the government shutdown. However, many airports are refusing to air the public service announcement, including all major airports in the Bay Area.
“It is TSA’s top priority to make sure 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,” Noem says in the video. “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.”
A now-removed Reddit post, from around 6 a.m. Tuesday, claimed the controversial video was playing at San Francisco International Airport. However, spokesperson Doug Yakel told SFGATE that the video is not playing at SFO and never has.
“This video is not being played at SFO, consistent with our policy prohibiting any messaging of a political nature,” SFO said on Threads.
The Reddit post had more than 600 upvotes and almost 80 comments before moderators removed it for misinformation.
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport has also refused to play the video, citing that TSA agents are considered essential employees and are reporting to work, OAK spokesperson Kaley Skantz told SFGATE in an email. San Jose Mineta International Airport spokesperson Ana Maria State told SFGATE in an email that “airport-specific messaging will be used” if there are any disruptions in travel.
SFO’s stance on the messaging being political in nature is in line with other airports across the country, including Portland International Airport, whose spokesperson said the video violates the Hatch Act. The 1939 Hatch Act prohibits federal employees and agencies from partisan messaging and activities.
“The law’s purposes are to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion, to protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace, and to ensure that federal employees are advanced based on merit and not based on political affiliation,” the Office of Special Counsel says on its website.