Title: Senators Call for Investigation into Noem's TSA Video

Democratic senators are urging an investigation into a video featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that they claim violates the Hatch Act. The video, which was distributed to airports nationwide, blames Democrats for the impacts of the government shutdown on airport operations and TSA employees.

Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated, "This appears to be a flagrant violation of Sec. 715, which states 'No part of any funds appropriated in this or any other act shall be used by an agency of the executive branch... for the preparation, distribution or use of any... film presentation designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress, except in presentation to the Congress itself.'"

The Hatch Act restricts certain political activities by federal employees and some state and local government workers involved in federally funded programs. Violations can lead to penalties such as removal from federal employment, suspension without pay, or demotion. The law aims to ensure nonpartisan administration of federal programs and protect employees from political coercion.

In response to inquiries about the video, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, "It is TSA's top priority to ensure that travelers have the most pleasant, efficient, and safe air travel security experience possible. It is a simple statement of fact that Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, most of our TSA employees are working without pay. 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."

Several major airports, including LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, have declined to show the video, citing policies against airing political content. Officials at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Bismarck Airport reported that the video was being shown on TSA-controlled screens, and they were not involved in the decision. A spokesperson for Detroit Wayne Airport indicated that they had requested TSA to stop playing the video.

The letter from Blumenthal and Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, co-signed by 15 other senators, demands that DHS remove the video from TSA checkpoints and cease using federal funds for partisan messaging. They also requested information on the funding used to produce the video, including costs and approvals, and whether any outside contractors were involved.

Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington has also called for an investigation, stating that the video misleads the public by failing to mention that Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress. Cantwell wrote, "When viewed in its totality, Secretary Noem's video can only be reasonably interpreted as a partisan message intended to misleadingly malign the Trump Administration's political opponents."

The senators' actions reflect growing concerns over the use of government resources for political purposes, particularly in the context of the ongoing government shutdown and its effects on federal employees and operations.