Legal experts say Kristi Noem's airport video breaks the law. Penalties are unlikely
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Several airports across the country are refusing to play a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at security checkpoints, saying its political messaging violates their policies or is illegal.
In the video, Noem blames Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown.
Noem says in the video, posted on social media by the White House: "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."
She continues, "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."
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Scholars of government law and ethics say this political messaging violates a law called the Hatch Act that restricts executive branch employees from engaging in certain political activities — but Noem is unlikely to face consequences for doing so.
Here's what to know about the video and the history of enforcem
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