Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway International Airports will not play a video of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown.
The Chicago Department of Aviation, which operates both O’Hare and Midway airports, confirmed to NBC Chicago that they will not display the video from the secretary.
“The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) declined a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) request last week to post a video at Chicago’s airports,” an emailed statement read. “Advertising at Chicago’s airports, including promotional materials and public service announcements, must comply with CDA’s Advertising Guidelines, which prohibit content that endorses or opposes any named political party. These guidelines help ensure the airports remain welcoming and neutral spaces for all travelers.”
The video shows Noem alerting travelers to potential disruptions in service caused by the ongoing shutdown, along with a message blaming Democrats for the ongoing stalemate in Washington.
“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. Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government,” she said.
In response, numerous airports, including in New York, Phoenix and Detroit, have declined to play the video according to NBC News, with some officials arguing that the video violates provisions of the Hatch Act, which curtails political activities or messages by federal government employees.
“(Our airport) 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,” Molly Prescott, communications manager for the Port of Portland, which is responsible for operating the city’s airport, told CNBC by email.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson confirmed in a social media post that Chicago’s airports would not be playing the video:
The government shutdown began October 1. In the political sparring that has followed, Noem’s message mirrors comments by President Donald Trump and other members of his administration blaming Democrats for the shutdown. Trump and other Republicans have called on Democrats to join Republicans in passing a stopgap funding measure to allow the government to reopen.
Democrats have refused to agree to any measure that doesn’t include extending enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Democrats have argued that the expiration of the tax credits will cause health care costs to explode in the U.S.
Republicans have refused to include that provision in agreements passed during the shutdown.
In the meantime, a shortage of air traffic controllers has caused flight delays and disruptions in Chicago and in other major cities.
“The CDA is closely monitoring the potential impacts of a federal government shutdown and will work with our federal partners — including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — to track any effects on staffing and regular services,” a CDA statement read. “The CDA is also reviewing how a shutdown may affect upcoming plans for the traveling public. Should disruptions occur, the department stands ready to assist our airport partners and support travelers in navigating any inconvenience.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy last week said controllers are expected to continue working without a paycheck, so they are now worried about how to pay their bills in addition to worrying about keeping flights safe.
“Now what they think about as they’re controlling our airspace is, how am I going to pay my mortgage? How do I make my car payment? I have a couple kids at home. How do I put food on the table? I’m working six days a week. Do I have to take a second job and drive Uber when I’m already exhausted from doing a job that’s already stressful to think about how I can make extra money because the government may not provide me a paycheck?” Duffy said.
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