Wichita’s Eisenhower Airport not showing Kristi Noem video blaming Dems for shutdown

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Wichita’s Airport will not show a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown.

The City of Wichita’s Director of Airports, Jesse Romo, told 12 News that airport leadership declined a request from the Transportation Safety Administration to air the video to waiting passengers and other airport visitors.

“While we deeply value and support our TSA partners and the vital role they play in ensuring the safety of our passengers, we will not be playing Secretary Noem’s latest video as we have policies that prohibit the display of political messages,” Romo said.

Several other major United States airports are refusing to play the video, according to a report this week from CNN. Some airports have cited the HATCH Act as a reason for not airing the video. The HATCH Act restricts political activity by federal employees.

In the video, Noem says, in part, “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.”

Airports deciding not to play the video include those in Portland, Seattle-Tacoma, Las Vegas, North Carolina’s Charlotte Douglas and three airports in New York.

It is not clear if any U.S. airport has agreed to display Noem’s video message.