San Diego International Airport Rejects Controversial Noem Video

San Diego International Airport (SAN) has decided not to display a video featuring Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, in which she blames Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown. The DHS intended for the video to be shown at airports nationwide, highlighting potential impacts on travel and airport operations.

In a statement, SAN clarified that airport operations have not been significantly affected by the shutdown. “Our messaging continues to focus on making the customer experience as easy and efficient as possible,” the airport stated. This decision reflects SAN’s commitment to working closely with federal partners to ensure the safety and reliability of the national air transportation system.

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently sent a letter to airport operators urging them not to air the video, citing concerns that it violates the Hatch Act, which prohibits the use of federal funds for partisan political purposes. The Governor’s Office emphasized that the video could mislead the public and advised airport officials to maintain their integrity by not participating in what they termed “partisan propaganda.”

In the controversial video, Noem argues that Democrats in Congress are responsible for the shutdown and its repercussions on airport operations. She stated, “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.”

San Diego City Councilmember and member of the San Diego Airport Authority Board, Marni von Wilpert, expressed her support for SAN’s decision. She wrote a letter to the Airport Authority Board, thanking them for not airing the video. “San Diegans and the traveling public deserve to know they won’t be subjected to this kind of partisan propaganda at San Diego airport,” von Wilpert stated.

The government shutdown has now persisted for more than two weeks, with von Wilpert asserting that the video serves to unfairly shift blame onto Democrats. “This video is false, political, and flat-out wrong — and San Diego International Airport made the right call by refusing to play it,” she added.

Looking ahead, von Wilpert called for a clear policy to prevent similar situations in the future, ensuring that political content does not infiltrate the airport environment. As the shutdown continues, SAN remains focused on providing a seamless travel experience for passengers, free from partisan distractions.