A group of Democratic senators has accused U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem of violating federal law after she ordered a partisan video to be played on airport monitors across the country. The roughly 30-second clip blamed Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown, which has left thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and air traffic control employees working without pay.
In the video, Noem tells travelers that “Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the government,” adding that the shutdown has “impacted operations” and left “most TSA employees working without pay.” She concludes by expressing hope that Democrats “will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”
The message, requested by Noem to be displayed at TSA security checkpoints nationwide, was quickly rejected by several major airports, which cited its overtly political tone. Airport authorities in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Las Vegas, and Dallas were among those that refused to broadcast the clip, saying they maintain neutrality and prohibit partisan content in airport advertising.
However, a handful of airports, including those in Detroit, Bismarck, and El Paso, reportedly aired the message, as the TSA operates its own monitors in certain facilities.
Seventeen Democratic senators signed a letter to Noem on Wednesday demanding that the Department of Homeland Security “immediately remove the videos.” They argued that using federal resources for partisan political activity is a “clear violation” of the Hatch Act, a law that prohibits government employees from engaging in political activity while performing official duties.
“Federal law clearly prohibits using taxpayer funds for political propaganda,” the senators wrote. “We will be monitoring your compliance with federal law.”
Legal experts have echoed those concerns. Stanley Brand, a law professor at Penn State Dickinson Law, told NPR the video “seems like a blatant use of political messaging in a forum and by somebody who probably shouldn’t be doing it.” John Berry, an attorney experienced in Hatch Act cases, added that if Noem used government resources to produce the video, she is “clearly covered” by the Act’s restrictions.
The senators also requested a full accounting of how much the video cost to produce and distribute, as well as details on who approved its creation.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called the video “illegal” and praised airports in his state for refusing to display it. “Our airports are for travelers, not for spreading political propaganda,” he said in a post on X.
The Hatch Act, enacted in 1939, restricts political activities by most federal employees to prevent the use of public resources for partisan purposes. Violations can result in penalties including suspension, fines, or removal from office.
This is not the first time the law has been tested during a government shutdown. The non-profit watchdog group Public Citizen has filed complaints alleging that several federal websites and agency communications have also improperly blamed Democrats for the funding impasse.
