As the United State enters week three of the government shutdown, there’s been no shortage of news coverage about the impact and potential long term effects of the current situation. One of the areas that has been impacted pretty significantly to date, and received quite a bit of news coverage, is TSA employees and airport operations.
Homeland Security Secretary’s Controversial Video
Last week, Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, asked airports around the United States to utilize a video she recorded regarding the government shutdown and subsequent impact on airport operations. In the video, Noem ‘blames Democrats for the federal government shutdown and its impacts on Transportation Security Administration operations,’ this according to NBC News.
Noem, nor the Department of Homeland Security, have the authority to mandate or require airports to show the video, which is why it has been referred to as ‘voluntary’ request, but within the past few days, that request has been met with a great deal of opposition.
As reported by several news outlets including ABC and CNBC, some Democratic senators have inquired as to whether or not the video is a violation of the Hatch Act. The act, a federal law, restricts federal employees from engaging in political activity while acting in their official role, this includes Cabinet secretaries.
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Several airports spanning a number of states have refused to air the recent video from Homeland Security regarding the government shutdown and the impact it has on airport/TSA operation. A number of them have cited that ‘the video goes against their airport policy or regulations which prohibit political messaging in their facilities.’
Among major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Atlanta, most New York airports have refused to run the video on airport screens. According to NBC News:
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, said it would not air the videos, citing rules against “politically partisan messages.”
Albany Airport has confirmed that they will no longer be playing the video after it was initially shown on airport screens, seemingly without notice. Albany Airport’s Director of Communications, Matt Hunter issued the following statement:
In keeping with longstanding policies of not displaying political messaging or content of any kind, [the Albany County Airport Authority] has made the decision to discontinue airing the video. 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.
Similarly, Westchester County Airport has also opted out of showing the video. Ken Jenkins, Westchester County Executive, has called the video’s messaging inappropriate and unacceptable.
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Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart