WA senator seeks investigation into DHS’ Kristi Noem’s airport PSA blaming Democrats
Oct 16, 2025, 7:35 AM | Updated: 3:28 pm
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a roundtable discussion in the State Dining Room of the White House on October 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images)
(Photo: Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images)
Washington Senator Maria Cantwell has asked the U.S. Office of Special Counsel to investigate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem after she authored a controversial video blaming Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown.
Noem created the “public service announcement” to be played at security checkpoints in airports throughout the U.S., but many airports have refused to allow it on screens that they control, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Now, Cantwell wants this act investigated as she claims it violates the Hatch Act.
“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,'” Cantwell wrote. “This message is not just false; it appears to violate the prohibitions contained in the Hatch Act.”
The Hatch Act, a federal law passed in 1939, prohibits federal employees, including cabinet secretaries, from engaging in political activity while performing their official duties. The Office of Special Counsel is responsible for investigating potential Hatch Act violations.
The U.S. government has been shut down for 16 days. The longest government shutdown in the country’s history was 35 days, occurring during President Donald Trump’s first term from December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019.
“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,” Cantwell continued.
Cantwell further claimed that the DHS is using taxpayer money to produce and air the video.
KIRO Newsradio reached out to Washington Senator Patty Murray, who’s a part of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Committee, for comment.
This is a developing story, check back for updates
Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.
