A couple of days ago, I covered how a new video is being screened at TSA checkpoints nationwide. Well, as it turns out, the video isn’t actually playing at all airports, and it’s causing some beef between local authorities and the federal government.
Airports pull TSA video blaming Democrats for shutdown
It’s normal for there to be a video playing on overhead monitors at TSA checkpoints, often from the Secretary of Homeland Security. The intent is that the video is supposed to be informational, rather than something political.
Up until recently, the video was about the REAL ID deadline. However, that has now been replaced by a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, which seems to primarily be about blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. As the video goes:
“Hi, I’m Kristi Noem, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. It is TSA’s top priority to make sure that you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience possible while we keep you 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. We will continue to do all that we can to avoid delays that will impact your travel, and our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”
While this was supposed to play at all airports nationwide, a growing number of airports are refusing to air this. Specifically, this isn’t playing at airport controlled monitors at the following facilities:
- Atlanta (ATL)
- Buffalo (BUF)
- Charlotte (CLT)
- Cleveland (CLE)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- New York Kennedy (JFK)
- Newark (EWR)
- Phoenix (PHX)
- Portland (PDX)
- Seattle (SEA)
- Spokane (GEG)
- White Plains (HPN)
How airport authorities are justifying their decision
Airport authorities are providing all kinds of different justifications for not screening this video at airports. For example, here’s the statement the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey released:
“The Port Authority’s longstanding policies prevent airing of politically partisan messages at our facilities, so airports are not airing the video on airport-controlled screens.”
Here’s the statement that Phoenix Airport released:
“Consistent with airport policy, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport declined to post the video. The policy does not permit political content.”
Here’s the statement that Portland Airport released:
“We did not consent to playing the video in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes and messaging.”
Here’s a statement from an executive at White Plains Airport:
“Westchester County has reviewed the request from the Department of Homeland Security to replace the REAL ID video with a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that was released by United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and our message is clear: it is inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials. The PSA politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA Operations, and the County finds the tone to be unnecessarily alarmist – particularly as it relates to operations at Westchester County Airport. This video will not be displayed at Westchester County Airport.”
I think part of the issue with our political process is that most people have strong opinions and think they’re right, and therefore justify things they wouldn’t be okay with if roles were reversed. This applies to both parties, and you can pick your topic — cancel culture, free speech, personal freedoms, blaming the opposition, etc.
Regardless of which party is “at fault” for the government shutdown, I don’t think messages like this are appropriate. I’d say this if Biden’s Secretary of Homeland Security were making a video like this, and I’m saying this as Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security is making a video like this.
Sure, make a video apologizing for potentially longer wait times due to the government shutdown, but to just make this about politics crosses a line, in my opinion. And I’m sure some people will disagree with me, but I’d love to hear if those people would be fine if the shoe were on the other foot here, and if it wasn’t your preferred party saying it.
Bottom line
Over a dozen airports and counting are refusing to show Kristi Noem’s new TSA checkpoint video, which is mainly about blaming Democrats on the government shutdown. The checkpoint videos are intended to be informational, providing details that travelers may find useful. Suffice it to say that this video has a different angle.
Airports are making a variety of arguments against the video, from claiming it violates the Hatch Act, to stating it just violates airport policies.