NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk International Airport has decided against playing a Department of Homeland Security video in which Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem blames Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown.
"The video is not playing at ORF. The Norfolk Airport Authority’s longstanding practice is to decline political messaging within its facilities," a statement from a spokesperson for Norfolk International Airport reads. "We are hopeful those in Washington, D.C. will soon resolve this dispute for the benefit of all who are affected by it."
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Numerous other airports across the country have also opted to not play the video, per CNN, including Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International, Portland International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Charlotte Douglas International Airport and three in New York.
The video was shared by an official White House X account on Oct. 10, along with the caption, "currently playing at every public airport in America." Noem states in the video that most TSA employees are not getting paid during the government shutdown. She places the blame on Democrats, stating they "refuse to fund the federal government."
Noem's full remarks made in the video are as follows:
“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. 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.”
Tuesday marks Day 14 of the government shutdown. Over the weekend, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers held firm on their positions as more consequences of the shutdown emerged.
On Friday, many federal workers also missed their first paycheck, while thousands of others were permanently laid off. One group spared for now is active-duty military members, who were set to miss a paycheck this week. President Donald Trump said he ordered for the “use [of] all available funds” to ensure troops are paid on Oct. 15, adding that his administration has “identified funds to do this.”
