The Bay Area’s three major airports have joined a growing number of U.S. airports refusing to play a Transportation Security Administration video in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blames Democrats in Congress for the ongoing federal government shutdown.
In the message, which the DHS requested be shown at airport security checkpoints nationwide, Noem tells travelers that TSA employees are “working without pay” because “Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government.”
The video has drawn widespread criticism for injecting partisan politics into what is typically a neutral, federally managed setting. The Department of Homeland Security defended the video, repeating its claim that “Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government” and insisting TSA operations remain “largely unimpacted.”
“This video is not being played at SFO, consistent with our policy prohibiting any messaging of a political nature,” an airport spokesperson said in a statement.
Officials at San Jose Mineta International Airport said normal operations continue without disruption, “so no additional messaging in the terminals is necessary.”
“In the event of any operational impacts, airport-specific messaging will be used to keep passengers informed and ensure they have a seamless travel experience at SJC,” the airport said in a statement.
Oakland International Airport also confirmed it had declined to air the video.
“The video is not running at OAK at this time,” a spokesperson said, adding that the airport “appreciates its partners at the Transportation Security Administration as they perform their important work in support of the safe and secure travel of OAK passengers.”
Across the country, airports in Las Vegas, Portland, Ore., Seattle, Phoenix, Charlotte, N.C., and New York have similarly decided not to air the video. Many cited the Hatch Act, a 1939 law prohibiting the use of public resources for partisan political activity.
Airport officials in Portland and Seattle said they viewed the DHS request as a violation of federal and state laws that require government institutions to remain politically neutral, noting that local state law bans public employees from promoting or opposing any political party.