Homeland Security boss Kristi Noem’s video blaming Democrats for the federal government shutdown — meant to be played for travelers waiting in TSA checkpoint lines — won’t fly in New York.
The video, placing blame on any airport slowdowns on Democratic lawmakers in Congress, will not be played at any airport controlled by state agencies or authorities, a state government source told the Daily News.
That includes LaGuardia and Kennedy airports, as well as Stewart International. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs Newark Airport, confirmed Tuesday that the video wouldn’t run on screens at the New Jersey airport either.
“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,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement.
“Here in New York, we’ll stay focused on keeping the flying public safe – and that means not playing political ads in our airports.”
The list of New York airports not playing the video also includes Buffalo-Niagara International Airport and Niagara Falls International Airport, as well as the Ogdensburg International Airport.
Newark travelers also won’t see the message.
“The Port Authority’s longstanding policies prevent airing of politically partisan messages at our facilities, so airports are not airing the video on airport-controlled screens,” said Port Authority spokesperson Cheryl Albiez.
Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News
LaGuardia Airport. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News)
In the video, which was to be played at TSA checkpoints nationwide, Noem — standing before an American flag as well as flags with the emblems of the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security — puts the blame for any delays on Democratic lawmakers.
“It is TSA’s top priority to make sure that you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience as possible while we keep you safe,” Noem says. “However, 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.”
“We will continue to do all that we can to avoid delays that will impact your travel, and our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government,” she continues.
The video has also been blocked at major airports nationwide, in cities like Las Vegas, Seattle, Pheonix and elsewhere.
Many essential airport workers, including TSA agents and air traffic controllers, have been working without pay since the federal government shut down two weeks ago, after Democratic senators refused to vote for a Republican spending bill that would have funded the government until Thanksgiving.
Democrats are demanding that the GOP and Trump negotiate over the president’s cuts to health spending and Obamacare subsidies, without which they say insurance premiums will skyrocket.
