Thursday marks the 16th day of what has become known as the Schumer Shutdown. It might be expected that Democratic senators would prioritize pressing matters, such as Majority Leader John Thune’s (R-SD) proposal to vote on Obamacare extensions in return for reopening the government. However, attention has shifted to a newly released video by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. This video blames Senate Democrats for the ongoing shutdown, and several airports have already declined to play it, labeling it “coercive.” Meanwhile, continuous broadcasts of CNN seem to pass without similar scrutiny.

Resistance in the Terminals: Airports Reject Kristi Noem’s Shutdown Video

The decision to investigate Noem’s placement of these videos in airports is based on allegations of violating the Hatch Act. The involvement of Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), often criticized by opponents, suggests a less-than-serious approach, a sentiment familiar to many Americans.

This is the current preoccupation for Democrats and their supporters, who even seek to classify meme-sharing by the White House as a potential Hatch Act violation.

But what exactly is the Hatch Act designed to address?

— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) October 15, 2025

Democratic senators are alleging that the Department of Homeland Security potentially violated the Hatch Act by asking airports across the country to play a video featuring DHS Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the impacts of the government shutdown.

“This appears to be a flagrant violation of Sec. 715, which states ‘No part of any funds appropriated in this or any other act shall be used by an agency of the executive to branch… for the preparation, distribution or use of any… film presentation designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress, except in presentation to the Congress itself,’” Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal wrote in the letter to DHS citing a section from the Anti-Lobbying Act. 

The Hatch Act restricts certain political activities by federal employees and by some state, Washington, D.C., and local government workers who are involved or work in federally funded programs. Penalties for violating it include removal from federal employment, suspension without pay, demotion, or blocking a party from federal jobs for up to five years, according to the Office of Special Counsel.

This is what occupies the Democrats and their insane peanut galleries. They even want the White House posting memes that mock the Democrats to be reported as a Hatch Act violation.

This is a clear violation of the hatch act yet no one cares because it’s actually one of the smaller laws this administration has broken pic.twitter.com/HrLRnbZ2MO

— ZootLord (@Zoot_Lord) October 6, 2025

Here is what the Hatch Act is supposed to do.

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law designed to limit the political activities of government employees. Its primary purpose is to ensure that the federal workforce operates in a nonpartisan manner, free from political influence or coercion. The law aims to prevent the use of official authority to affect election outcomes and to protect civil servants from pressure to support specific candidates or parties. This framework helps maintain a system where federal employment and advancement are based on merit rather than political affiliation.

Dive Deeper: Now It’s His Turn: Jack Smith Reportedly Under Investigation for Violating Hatch Act

The key words here: influence, coercion, and election outcomes. How does an ad placing blame where it rightly belongs, and outlining the ramifications that are being felt from this shutdown, become a form influence or coercion? What election is Noem supposedly influencing? It is sheer nonsense. Invoking the Hatch Act has become a magic talisman that gets thrown around whenever elected officials do things in a manner someone does not like, whether that official is a Democrat or a Republican.

The Hatch Act also has little teeth, which is why one Congress to another has tried to deepen its enforcement mechanisms. Thus far, these efforts have failed. However, there have been clear violations of the Hatch Act by, you guessed it, Democrats. The Biden administration is the last, best example. 

Former Biden advisor Neera Tanden, one of the admitted autopen handlers, shows what a violation of the Hatch Act actually looks like.

In a complaint to the Merit Systems Protection Board filed on Wednesday, the OSC alleges that Neera Tanden, Director of the United States Domestic Policy Council, violated the Hatch Act by posting statements on social media asking for donations to several different Democrat candidates in the 2024 general election despite being warned against such posts.

“Congress created a rule banning all federal employees from fundraising for political candidates,” special counsel Hampton Dellinger said in a statement. “The Hatch Act contains no escape hatch for White House officials. Back in May, I made clear my office would enforce the law as written.”

According to the complaint, Tanden repeatedly posted on social media asking people to donate to Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrat candidates, even after the agency notified the White House last August that doing so was in violation of the Hatch Act.

Another Biden cabinet member, Health and Human Secretary Xavier Becerra gave a speech in his official capacity of the HHS Secretary, and at the end of it, praised Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and encouraged voting for his reelection. A clearly weighted political pitch. 

At the gala, Becerra was given the 2022 American Dream Medallion Award and he gave remarks about HHS and the Biden administration’s work, which were reviewed and approved by an HHS ethics attorney. After a short video about Becerra was played, which identified him as the 25th HHS secretary, Padilla presented the award to him.

“Once the video concluded, Secretary Becerra thanked Senator Padilla for the award and, deviating from his prepared remarks, stated, ‘To my brother, my friend and Senator, and someone I will be voting for in a little but more than a month, Alex Padilla, thank you so much, senator for being there for all of us. We are proud to have you as our senator,’” the report stated. Some members of Becerra’s staff were at the gala and recorded the remarks. “On the recording, someone on his staff can be heard gasping after the secretary’s comments about Senator Padilla and saying, ‘No, no you can’t say that.’”  

During the investigation, Becerra told OSC that his remarks were “off-the-cuff,” and reflected his “long-standing personal relationship” with Padilla. For the voting part of his statement, Becerra said, “I don’t believe I thought of that as conveying anything more than what I as a responsible citizen would be doing in the near future.” 

OSC was not swayed.

“Becerra’s proffered explanations do not serve to mitigate the issuance of this report to the president,” the report said. The office also noted Becerra has received “ample information” on the Hatch Act since he came into office.

Then there are these soft examples that appear to step over the line, but are not overt violations. Like Congressman Eric Swalwell promoting the October 18 “No Kings” rally and hawking merchandise for it.

The No Kings Rally is just a couple weeks away. Get your merch now at and I’ll see you there! pic.twitter.com/XjsEob69dh

— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) October 1, 2025

While California Gov. Gavin Newsom is not a federal employee or official, he uses his office to promote progressive and Democrat agendas on steroids. Imagine what he would do if he ever became president. Perish the thought.

I urge our nation to use this weekend’s No Kings marches as a declaration of independence against the tyranny and lawlessness currently running this country.

Use your voice. ACT PEACEFULLY. Protect yourself and your community.

THERE ARE NO KINGS IN THE UNITED STATES. pic.twitter.com/ClZbE1LZBg

— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) October 16, 2025

In the meantime, Senate Democrats continue their fishing expeditions, looking for a crime that they can pin on the Trump administration. One would think they would have learned by now, but that would be too much like right.

The senators also asked DHS to provide information on the funding used to produce the video, including the cost, the approver of the funds, whether anyone from the Trump administration was consulted on the video, and if any outside contractors or organizations were involved in its creation to assess whether any federal laws were violated or funds misused, according to the letter.

Expect this to go nowhere.

Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.

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