Several major U.S. airports are refusing to air a video from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that pins the blame for federal shutdown chaos on congressional Democrats, as Newsweek reports.
The core issue is a federal government shutdown that started on October 1, 2025, causing staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), significant travel delays, and a contentious video from Noem that many airports deem too political for public screens.
Let’s rewind to the beginning: the shutdown kicked off earlier this month, grinding federal operations to a halt and leaving agencies like the TSA scrambling.
Air traffic controllers and TSA staff are working without pay, grappling with financial uncertainty, and calling in sick in droves, leading to long lines and frustrated travelers.
The ripple effect is clear—fewer staff means slower security checks and delayed flights at airports nationwide, turning a routine trip into a test of patience.
Amid this mess, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stepped in with a video message, aiming to reassure travelers about TSA’s commitment to safety and efficiency despite the challenges.
But here’s the rub: Noem’s video doesn’t just offer comfort—it points fingers at Democrats for refusing to fund the government, a move many airports see as crossing into partisan territory.
“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 stated in the video.
Well, that’s one way to spice up a public service announcement, but airports aren’t biting—many argue this kind of blame game violates laws and policies against political messaging on public property.
Airports in cities like Buffalo, Charlotte, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle, Las Vegas, and Portland have all said “no thanks” to screening the video, citing strict rules like the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars federal employees from partisan politicking.
Take the Port of Portland, for instance, which operates Portland International Airport—they rejected the TSA’s request, arguing that airing the video would breach both the Hatch Act and Oregon state law against public employees engaging in political advocacy.
“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,” a Port of Portland spokesperson declared, doubling down on their stance.
Similarly, Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina pointed out that TSA doesn’t even own the checkpoint monitors, and their own screens are reserved for travel info and revenue ads, not political hot potatoes.
Phoenix Sky Harbor and Buffalo Niagara International Airport also stood firm, with spokespersons noting their long-standing bans on partisan content in public spaces, a policy that’s hardly up for debate.
Even Westchester County Airport joined the chorus, slamming the video’s tone as alarmist and inappropriate for a public venue, refusing to let it play on their turf.
