Multiple airports in upstate New York’s large cities are not playing a video with a message from U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem where she blames Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown and its impacts on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations, citing their policies over political content.
In the video, Noem says that TSA’s “top priority” is to help make travel pleasant and efficient while keeping passengers 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,” she continues.
The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, in a statement Tuesday, said it is aware of the video and that it has not been displayed at Syracuse Hancock International Airport.
“The airport remains committed to maintaining a nonpartisan environment for all travelers. In alignment with this commitment, our Terminal Advertising Policy expressly prohibits political advertising, ensuring that messaging within our facilities remains neutral and focused on the traveler experience,” the statement reads.
Albany International Airport said the footage was initially placed on the monitors by TSA personnel without prior notice to the Albany County Airport Authority or airport staff and has since stopped showing it.
“The statements made in the video raise questions about longstanding policies related to the Federal Hatch Act, which prohibits engaging in political activity while in an official capacity, including communication that blames, praises, or criticizes a specific political party or figure,” Matt Hunter, director of communications for the Albany International Airport, said in a statement.
Large airports across the country have also refused to air the video by also citing the Hatch Act, a 1939 federal law which restricts certain political activities by federal employees.
Spectrum News 1 has reached out to the airports in Rochester and Buffalo to inquire if the video is being shown there.
The government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, has halted routine operations and left airports scrambling with flight disruptions. Airport workers are considered essential personnel and have to work without pay as long as the shutdown lasts. The union that represents the air traffic controllers say they are coming to work and says it’s still safe to fly.
The Associated Press contributed to this report