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A video featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown is not being shown at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. The video, which has been displayed at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints nationwide, attributes travel delays to Democrats' refusal to fund the government. The shutdown has now extended into its third week.
Officials at the Syracuse airport have not commented on their decision to withhold the video from travelers. TSA employees at the airport continue to work without any reported mass sickouts.
The video has sparked controversy due to its political nature. According to CNN, the video skirts the boundaries of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activities while on duty. The act aims to prevent political activities by federal employees and agencies.
Many airports across the United States, including some of the busiest, have opted not to show the video. Spectrum News reports that airports in New York, including John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, have declined to air the video due to policies against politically partisan messages. Other major airports, such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, have also refrained from showing the video.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA, has stated that the video is being rolled out to airports nationwide. A spokesperson reiterated the video’s message, expressing hope that Democrats will recognize the importance of reopening the government.