Democratic senators say Kristi Noem broke the law with video released at TSA checkpoints
Washington
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Senate Democrats are calling for an investigation and immediate removal of a video released at some Transportation Security Administration checkpoints in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blames Democrats for the government shutdown.
The 37-second video, intended to be shown to a captive audience of travelers queuing for security, injects politics into air travel in a way never seen before.
“Secretary of State Kristi Noem is broadcasting a partisan video message – on public airport televisions across the country – in which she falsely blames ‘Congressional Democrats’ for the impact of the current government shutdown on airport ‘operations’ and for Transportation Security Administration employees ‘working without pay,'” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, R-State. Washington in a letter addressed to the “Office of the Special Adviser”. it appears to violate prohibitions contained in the Hatch Act. As the independent agency charged with enforcing the Hatch Act, I urge you to immediately investigate this matter,” Cantwell added.
The Hatch Act is a 1939 law that prohibits political activities by federal employees to ensure that government programs are administered in a nonpartisan manner.
In a separate letter to Noem, Senators Richard Blumenthal, Jack Reed and 15 other Democratic co-signers say the video also violates anti-lobbying law. A 1919 law prohibiting the use of appropriated funds to influence Congress.
Video of Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for closing TSA security checkpoints
Video of Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for closing TSA security checkpoints
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The video, called a “public service announcement” by the Department of Homeland Security, was shown earlier this week on TSA-owned monitors at airports including Detroit, Bismarck, North Dakota, and Albany, New York, but most airports chose not to show it on the screens they control.
“We will continue to do everything we can to avoid delays that will impact your travel, and we hope that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening government,” Noem said in the recorded message.
Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado called it “unacceptable” that more airports are not releasing the video.
“I will contact the Department of Transportation to demand action against airports that refuse to show Secretary Noem’s video at TSA checkpoints,” she said in a post on X.
Experts have raised questions about the legality of the video, whether DHS can require airports to show it on their screens, and what happens if airports refuse.
“At a time when federal employees, including TSA officers, are asked to work without pay, this seemingly political act was not only a violation of the law but an insult to the thousands of TSA employees serving in your department,” Blumenthal and Reed’s letter read. “We are writing to demand that you immediately remove these videos and provide information about the resources that were used to create and distribute them.”
In the letter, the senators asked Noem to remove the video and stop using federal funds for political messages. It also calls for a “full breakdown” of the cost of creating the video, from the cost of production to when funds were approved.
CNN’s Annie Grayer contributed to this report.
