Travelers at New York City-area airports won't see a new, politics-tinged video by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames congressional Democrats for the federal government shutdown, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
New York state officials decided over the holiday weekend that all airports controlled by state authorities in New York — including JFK and LaGuardia airports — won’t air the video in waiting areas, Hochul’s office said. Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey also won’t air the video, the Port Authority said.
In the 36-second video, first obtained by Fox News, Noem says Transportation Security Administration operations would be “impacted” by the federal government shutdown. Noem blames “Democrats in Congress,” who she says “refuse to fund the federal government.” The TSA is under Homeland Security’s jurisdiction.
A spokesperson for the Port Authority, which oversees JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports, among others, attributed the decision to not air the video to long-standing policies barring the airing of “politically partisan” messages at their facilities.
“When Kristi Noem isn't busy trying to defund the police in New York, she's apparently hard at work subjecting travelers to obviously false and nakedly partisan messaging,” Hochul said in a statement, alluding to a recent fight over federal funding. “Here in New York, we'll stay focused on keeping the flying public safe — and that means not playing political ads in our airports."
Other airports across the country, including in Phoenix and Seattle, have also declined to air the video, citing similar concerns about political messaging. The messaging comes as the federal government shutdown is set to extend into a third week, with no clear end in sight.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said Democrats in Congress were to blame for the shutdown.
“While this creates challenges for our people, our security operations remain largely unimpacted at this time,” McLaughlin said. “It’s unfortunate our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship. Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government."
The shutdown began just after midnight on Oct. 1. Congressional Republicans, who are in the majority in both the House and the Senate, and Democrats failed to agree on a bill to continue funding federal government service.
Proposed spending bills have failed to garner the necessary 60 votes in the Senate. Democrats have said they would refuse to sign onto measures ending the stalemate unless the Trump administration extends expiring tax credits for health care.
