EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A motion before the El Paso City Council to direct the city manager and attorney to review agreements with the Transportation Security Administration in response to a controversial video playing inside the El Paso International Airport failed Tuesday after a tie-breaking vote by Mayor Renard Johnson.
The measure, which aimed to explore a possible Memorandum of Understanding or a lease agreement to align TSA checkpoint operations with City of El Paso policies ended in a tie. Johnson’s no vote broke the tie, stopping the proposal.
During Tuesday’s city council meeting, Johnson acknowledged the video recorded by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, but said the city had already made several attempts to have it removed without success.
“This is a prime example of when you have conflict between federal, state, and local groups,” Johnson said. “I sent a letter to the TSA director requesting that the video be taken down, and I got the same response as the city manager and city attorney. It’s in an area that’s controlled by TSA”
Johnson also noted that the Hatch Act does not apply to the President, Vice President, Cabinet officers or members of Congress, nor to employees or certain agencies like the FBI CIA or National Security Council in specific roles, making the city’s ability to intervene limited.
“I don’t think it’s prudent to spend the city’s money, our taxpayer dollars, to have our city manager and city attorney trying to get them to remove a video and get the same response that we already got,” he said. “I’d rather spend some of these resources on fixing potholes and pulling weeds.”
Last week, the city of El Paso posted a sign informing travelers it didn’t support the “TSA controlled video” on display.
In the video, Noem says the TSA’s “top priority” is to help make travel pleasant and efficient while keeping passengers safe.
“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,” Noem adds.
Tuesday’s motion would have also required a full review of existing documents, security clearances, and a report to council within 60 days.
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