Multiple airports in upstate New York\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
In the video, Noem says that TSA\u2019s \u201ctop priority\u201d is to help make travel pleasant and efficient while keeping passengers safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, 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,\u201d she continues.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d Matt Hunter, director of communications for the Albany International Airport, said in a statement.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Spectrum News 1 has reached out to the airports in Rochester and Buffalo to inquire if the video is being shown there.<\/p>\n