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 regulation that restricts the political actions of federal workers in addition to some state and native workers who’re concerned in or work in federally funded applications.
The roughly 30-second video started rolling out to airports final week, in accordance with 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 govt order on September 22, on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 8, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
“It’s TSA’s prime precedence to make you may have probably the most nice and environment friendly airport expertise as attainable whereas we preserve you protected,” Noem says within the video. “Nonetheless, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government. And due to this, a lot of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA workers are working with out pay. We are going to proceed to do all that we are able to to keep away from delays that can affect your journey. And our hope is that Democrats will quickly acknowledge the significance of opening the federal government. “
Total, of the TSA’s roughly 64,000 workers, greater than 61,000 are working with out pay throughout the federal government shutdown, which is now in its second week.
Democrats keep Republicans shoulder the accountability for the shutdown, arguing they should negotiate over well being care premiums as a part of an effort to return to settlement on federal spending.
Among the many airports which have declined to point out 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 stop airing of politically partisan messages at our services, so airports will not be 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 an announcement.
An worker with the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) strikes luggage 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 an announcement, Portland Worldwide Airport, in Oregon, mentioned it “didn’t consent to enjoying the video in its present kind, as we consider the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public property for political functions and messaging.”.
The assertion went on to say: “Moreover, Oregon regulation states no public worker can promote or oppose any political committee, social gathering, or affiliation. We consider consenting to enjoying this video on Port property would violate Oregon regulation.”
Some airports, such because the Akron-Canton airport in northeastern Ohio, mentioned digital video screens at their services 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 an announcement from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin: “It’s TSA’s prime precedence to make sure that vacationers have probably the most protected, nice and environment friendly airport expertise attainable. Nonetheless, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal authorities, and due to this, most of our TSA workers 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.”
