U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, has called for an investigation into Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. Cantwell alleges that Noem may have violated the Hatch Act by appearing in a partisan video shown at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport screening locations across the United States.
In her letter to Acting Special Counsel Jamieson Greer, Cantwell stated: “I am formally notifying the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem is airing a partisan video message—on televisions in public airports across the country—in which she erroneously blames ‘Democrats in Congress’ for the current government shutdown’s impact on airport ‘operations’ and for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees ‘working without pay.’ This message is not just false; it appears to violate the prohibitions contained in the Hatch Act.”
The Hatch Act restricts federal employees from engaging in political activity while on duty or when wearing official uniforms or insignia. Cantwell argues that Noem’s video, which features her standing in front of an American flag and DHS insignia, constitutes political activity. She wrote: “When viewed in its totality, Secretary Noem’s video can only be reasonably interpreted as a partisan message intended to misleadingly malign the Trump Administration’s political opponents, convince Americans to blame ‘Democrats in Congress’ for the ongoing government shutdown, and influence their future votes—all while omitting the fact that Republicans currently control the White House, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives.”
According to Cantwell, several airports—including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Spokane International Airport in Washington state, as well as airports in Portland, Cleveland, Buffalo, Charlotte, Phoenix, and Las Vegas—have refused to air the video due to its political content. A spokesperson for the Port of Seattle stated that Seattle-Tacoma International Airport would not play Noem’s video “due to the political nature of the content.” Similarly, a spokesperson for the Port of Portland explained, “we did not consent to playing the video in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes and messaging.”
Cantwell also noted that this incident is part of a broader pattern within the Trump Administration regarding alleged violations of federal ethics laws such as the Hatch Act. She emphasized the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s oversight responsibilities regarding TSA and taxpayer funds, stating: “No one is above the law.”
“This message is not just false; it appears to violate the prohibitions contained in the Hatch Act…I urge you to investigate this matter immediately,” Cantwell wrote.
The Office of Special Counsel is responsible for enforcing compliance with the Hatch Act.
