As several U.S. airports refuse to show a video of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the government shutdown, Houston airport officials have not yet said whether they’ll play the partisan message at their security checkpoints.

The video of Noem criticizing the Democratic Party has sparked pushback from Democratic leaders about whether her use of the video at Transportation Security Administration lines violates the Hatch Act, a federal law preventing government employees in the executive branch from using their jobs to influence elections. 

Noem claimed in the video that “Democrats in Congress refused to fund the federal government,” which caused TSA operations to be impacted. 

“Most of our TSA employees are working without pay,” she said. 

Here’s what to know about the controversy:

Is Noem’s video playing at Houston airports?

Houston Airport System officials did not respond to questions about whether they planned to show the video. 

A Houston Chronicle photojournalist saw a television monitor displaying one of Noem’s videos at William P. Hobby Airport on Wednesday, but it was an older video encouraging passengers to get their Real ID.

It is unclear whether Noem’s video criticizing Democrats was broadcast at the TSA lines of George Bush Intercontinental Airport. A Chronicle reporter saw screens showing TSA average wait times outside of the security checkpoints, but no videos of Noem on Tuesday.

In response to questions sent by email, the federal agency’s assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, said that TSA’s top priority is safety and efficiency during airport operations. 

The statement also repeated similar wording from Noem’s video about the Democrats refusing to fund the government. The Department of Homeland Security hopes Democrats “will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.” 

“While this creates challenges for our people, our security operations remain largely unimpacted at this time,” McLaughlin wrote in the email. “It’s unfortunate our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship.”

Are other Texas airports airing the TSA video?

In Texas, El Paso International Airport has announced that it played the video in its TSA lines, the Texas Tribune reported.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport stated that it does not have video monitors in its TSA lines.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field were among the other airports that refused to play the video due to their own policy prohibiting political advertising.

Corpus Christi International Airport and San Antonio International Airport are not displaying the video at their security checkpoints.

What did Texas political leaders say about the TSA video?
The shutdown happened after Democrats sought to extend tax credits that lower costs for Affordable Care Act plans. They stated that their goal is to maintain affordable health insurance for millions of Americans who would otherwise see their premiums skyrocket. 

Republicans falsely claimed that Democrats want to fund health care for immigrants who are in the country illegally. Federal law requires hospitals to provide emergency medical treatment to all patients, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, but immigrants who lack permanent legal status have never been eligible for federally funded health coverage.

Democratic leaders believe Noem’s video violates the Hatch Act. 

U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, referred to the message as “inappropriate” and “inaccurate.” She also criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to fire the federal watchdog responsible for enforcing the Hatch Act earlier this year. 

In response to the blame for the government shutdown being put on Democrats, Fletcher noted that the House, Senate and White House are all controlled by the Republican Party.

“The Noem video is a more blatant and egregious example of this administration making things political that shouldn’t be, and violating the law with impunity. What is happening is not normal, and it is not OK,” Fletcher said in a statement. 

Republican leaders agreed with Noem’s statements and supported airing her video at airports. 

U.S. Rep. Troy E. Nehls, R-Texas, said the government shutdown is a result of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Party's refusal to support the House of Representatives' continuing resolution, a temporary measure that allows the federal government to keep operating when Congress has not yet passed a new budget. Some political leaders have referred to the resolution as “clean.” 

Nehls added that the TSA agents and air traffic controllers are working without pay “because the Democrats are playing political games.” 

“Democrats should swallow their pride, quit holding the government hostage, and vote to pass the (continuing resolution). It’s the right thing to do,” he said.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation confirmed that U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who is also the chairman of the committee, supports Noem’s video. Cruz, in a statement responding to a request for comment about the video, underscored its message, saying Schumer and Democrats were to blame for the shutdown.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn also criticized Democrats over the handling of the government shutdown. He argued that while “it may not be a big deal to wealthy senators on the Democratic side who don't have to worry about paying the bills paycheck-to-paycheck,” the shutdown has serious consequences for “many, many Americans” who struggle to pay rent and utility bills and groceries. 

“It is really not rational that Senate Democrats should impose this burden on the entire country in order to try to appease the more radical elements of their political base, which is really what this is all about,” Cornyn said.

View this article in the Houston Chronicle.