Noem’s Shutdown Video Blocked at Fargo Airport Amid Controversy

URGENT UPDATE: A video featuring U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, which attributes potential flight delays to the federal government shutdown and blames Democrats, is not currently being shown at Hector International Airport in Fargo. Reports confirm that the video, part of a nationwide rollout, has been blocked amid legal concerns regarding political content in public spaces.

Officials at the Fargo airport clarified that the issue has been under review since the airport authority’s last meeting on October 14, 2023, but the specific video has not been displayed there. Paula Ekman, Chair of the Municipal Airport Authority, confirmed to The Forum that the video is not airing, and travelers may be misidentifying an older clip featuring Noem discussing the REAL ID process.

The controversy is rooted in a broader decision by dozens of airports across the United States, including the ten busiest, to refrain from showing the Noem video due to the restrictions imposed by the Hatch Act. This federal law prohibits civil service employees from engaging in political activities while on duty, leading to significant backlash against the video’s airing.

At Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the video remains under scrutiny as a spokesperson from the Metropolitan Airports Commission stated it would not run until a request from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is fully assessed.

According to Ekman, the video may have been briefly shown for about an hour on Wednesday, but airport staff reported no audio, raising questions about possible technical issues. “We don’t really determine what’s being played,” she explained, emphasizing that the TSA manages the equipment used for such videos.

Public reaction has been vocal, with many travelers expressing their opinions about the video. Ekman noted, “People are making their concerns known, and that’s the American way,” highlighting the engagement from the community regarding governmental actions.

In the contentious video, Noem asserts that TSA’s priority is to ensure a smooth travel experience, yet she claims, “Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government,” impacting many operations and leaving TSA employees working without pay. She urges Congress to act swiftly, stating, “Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”

The federal government shutdown commenced on October 1, 2023, after a political standoff over the extension of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act led to Congress’s failure to approve a new budget.

As travelers and officials await further developments, the situation remains fluid, with potential implications for air travel nationwide. Stay tuned for updates as this story unfolds.