Main airports throughout the nation — together with in New York Metropolis, Chicago and Atlanta — are refusing to play a video that includes Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the impacts of the federal government shutdown.
Lots of the airport representatives mentioned their facility’s insurance policies bar the exhibiting of political content material. Some additionally pointed to the Hatch Act, a legislation that restricts the political actions of federal staff in addition to some state and native staff who’re concerned in or work in federally funded applications.
The roughly 30-second video started rolling out to airports final week, based on DHS.
U.S. Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem speaks throughout a roundtable on antifa, an anti-fascist motion he designated a home “terrorist group” by way of government order on September 22, on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 8, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
“It’s TSA’s high precedence to make you could have essentially the most nice and environment friendly airport expertise as doable whereas we preserve you protected,” Noem says within the video. “Nonetheless, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government. And due to this, lots of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA staff are working with out pay. We are going to proceed to do all that we will to keep away from delays that may impression your journey. And our hope is that Democrats will quickly acknowledge the significance of opening the federal government. “
General, of the TSA’s roughly 64,000 staff, greater than 61,000 are working with out pay throughout the federal government shutdown, which is now in its second week.
Democrats preserve Republicans shoulder the duty for the shutdown, arguing they should negotiate over well being care premiums as a part of an effort to come back to settlement on federal spending.
Among the many airports which have declined to indicate the DHS video are LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, John F. Kennedy, Charlotte Douglas Worldwide, Seattle-Tacoma, San Francisco, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O’ Hare, Phoenix Worldwide and Colorado Springs.
“The Port Authority’s longstanding insurance policies forestall airing of politically partisan messages at our amenities, so airports usually are not airing the video on airport-controlled screens,” The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates New York Metropolis’s three main airports, mentioned in a press release.
An worker with the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) strikes baggage by way of a safety screening on the Hollywood Burbank Airport through the first day of a partial U.S. authorities shutdown in Burbank, California, U.S., October 1, 2025.
Daniel Cole/Reuters
In a press release, Portland Worldwide Airport, in Oregon, mentioned it “didn’t consent to enjoying the video in its present type, as we imagine the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public property for political functions and messaging.”.
The assertion went on to say: “Moreover, Oregon legislation states no public worker can promote or oppose any political committee, occasion, or affiliation. We imagine consenting to enjoying this video on Port property would violate Oregon legislation.”
Some airports, such because the Akron-Canton airport in northeastern Ohio, mentioned digital video screens at their amenities are designated for “static content material that helps wayfinding and important journey info.”
In response to a request for remark about some airports declining to play the video, DHS offered a press release from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin: “It’s TSA’s high precedence to make sure that vacationers have essentially the most protected, nice and environment friendly airport expertise doable. Nonetheless, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal authorities, and due to this, most of our TSA staff are working with out pay. Whereas this creates challenges for our folks, our safety operations stay largely unimpacted presently. It’s unlucky our workforce has been put on this place because of political gamesmanship. Our hope is that Democrats will quickly acknowledge the significance of opening the federal government.”
