"Airports in more than a half-dozen U.S. markets have declined to display a video in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem blames congressional Democrats for the government shutdown and anyrelated travel delays, citing the political nature of its content, according to local authorities. Officials that oversee airports serving Buffalo, Charlotte, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, said the video could violate internal policies that bar political messaging or contravene state or federal laws that prohibit the use of public resources for political activity."
""We believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes and messaging," said Molly Prescott, a spokesperson for the Port of Portland, which operates Portland International Airport. Enacted in 1939, the Hatch Act bars federal employees from engaging in politics while on the job and is meant to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion."
Airports in more than a half-dozen U.S. markets declined to display a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem that blamed congressional Democrats for the government shutdown and related travel delays. Officials at airports serving Buffalo, Charlotte, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, cited internal policies barring political messaging and potential conflicts with state or federal laws restricting use of public resources for political activity. The Port of Portland referenced the Hatch Act and Oregon law as reasons for refusal. Westchester County also declined to show the video and described it as inconsistent with expected public-official values. Some airports were not asked to air the messages because they lack appropriate screens.
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