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9h ago

Senators Seek Probe as Airports Reject DHS Video Blaming Democrats for Shutdown

The referral to the Office of Special Counsel follows airports citing legal limits on partisan messages.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) speaks during a press conference following the weekly policy luncheon, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon
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Travelers check their flights at Miami International Airport. (Marta Lavandier/AP file)

Overview

  • Sen. Maria Cantwell formally asked the Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether Secretary Kristi Noem’s TSA-line video violates the Hatch Act.
  • Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Jack Reed separately alleged potential Anti-Lobbying Act issues and requested the video’s removal and a full accounting of resources used.
  • A broad set of major airports declined to play the message on airport-controlled displays based on policies barring political content and legal concerns.
  • The clip continues to run on some TSA-controlled monitors, but the Wayne County Airport Authority asked TSA to stop showing it at Detroit Metro.
  • DHS defended the message as explaining shutdown effects on TSA workers, with officials noting operations remain largely unimpacted even as roughly 61,000 employees work without pay.