AT A GLANCE
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s airport video blames Democrats for the ongoing federal shutdown.
- Major airports in Las Vegas, Atlanta, Phoenix, Seattle, and others refused to air it over political content.
- Critics warn the message may violate the Hatch Act, which limits political activity by federal employees.
- TSA workers continue to work unpaid as the shutdown stretches on.
Airports Across the Country Push Back
Airports from Las Vegas to Charlotte are refusing to play a Department of Homeland Security video featuring Secretary Kristi Noem accusing Democrats of causing the ongoing federal government shutdown. Airport officials say the message violates policies that ban political or partisan content in terminals.
The video, distributed nationwide by the Department of Homeland Security, was meant to reassure travelers amid widespread TSA staffing issues. Instead, it’s drawn sharp backlash.
In the video, Noem claims that “Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government,” leading to operational disruptions and unpaid TSA workers. She adds that the agency’s “top priority” remains keeping travel “pleasant and efficient while ensuring safety.”
The shutdown, now in its third week, has halted routine operations and disrupted flights across the country. Democrats insist any funding deal must address health care provisions set to expire Dec. 31, while Republicans refuse to negotiate until spending bills are approved on their terms.
Hatch Act Questions and Political Fallout
Several legal experts warn that the video could violate the 1939 Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from engaging in political advocacy while performing official duties. Government emails and agency websites have reportedly echoed similar language blaming Democrats for the shutdown.
A DHS spokesperson defended the message, calling it “unfortunate that our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship.”
But airports nationwide—blue states and red alike—aren’t buying it.
Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas said it must “remain mindful of the Hatch Act’s restrictions” and that its facilities “are not designated public forums.” Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins called the message “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”
Red States Decline, Too
Even in conservative states, airport officials rejected the video. Salt Lake City International cited state law banning political content on city-owned property. In Montana, Billings airport officials “politely declined” to show it.
“We don’t want to get in the middle of partisan politics,” said assistant aviation director Paul Khera. “We like to stay middle of the road.”
For now, TSA workers—more than 61,000 of them—remain on duty without pay. And while the message from DHS aimed to assure travelers, it’s instead become another symbol of a federal government mired in dysfunction.
