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Airport authority posted sign at Detroit Metro Airport
The Wayne County Airport Authority is making it clear that it does not approve of a video message being played at Detroit Metro Airport from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in which she blames Democrats for the government shutdown and its impact on transportation security and safety.
On a posting on its Facebook page on Wednesday, it wrote:
"The Wayne County Airport Authority has requested the TSA stop playing the video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem addressing federal funding. WCAA does not operate the checkpoint monitors, which are located in TSA-leased space. The TSA did not seek approval to play the message. This evening, we placed signs near the checkpoint entrances to further address this issue."
The sign says: "Attention: The views expressed in this TSA controlled video do not represent the views of the Wayne County Airport Authority. The Wayne County Airport Authority does not engage in partisan politics. Thank you."
Matt Morawski, director of communications for the airport authority tells Deadline Detroit: "We’re awaiting an official response from the TSA."
TSA headquarters issued a statement to Deadline Detroit from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin when asked to respond to Wayne County's request to stop running the message:
"It is TSA's top priority to ensure that travelers have the most safe, pleasant and efficient airport experience possible. However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, most of our TSA employees are working without pay. While this creates challenges for our people, our security operations remain largely unimpacted at this time. 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."
The USA Today Network reports that Sawyer Regional Airport near Marquette and Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City are showing the video, but Lansing's Capital Region International Airport, Saginaw's MBS International Airport and Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport all said they are not.
Noem's message says that it is TSA’s “top priority” to make travel pleasant and 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,” she says.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport, tells Deadline Detroit that it is not airing the message.
“The Port Authority’s longstanding policies prevent airing of politically partisan messages at our facilities, so airports are not airing the video on airport-controlled screens," said Cheryl Albiez, a Port Authority spokesperson.
