Major airports across the country, including those in New York City, Chicago and Atlanta, are refusing to play a video featuring Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the impacts of the government shutdown.
Many of the airport representatives said their facility policies prohibit the display of political content. Some also pointed to the Hatch Act, a law that restricts the political activities of federal employees, as well as some state and local employees who participate in or work in federally funded programs.
The approximately 30-second video began spreading at airports last week, according to DHS.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a panel discussion on Antifa, an anti-fascist movement that she designated as a domestic “terrorist organization” by executive order on September 22, at the White House in Washington, DC, United States, on October 8, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
“TSA’s top priority is to make you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience possible while keeping you safe,” Noem says in the video. “Yet, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the government. And because of this, many of our operations are affected and most of our TSA employees are working without pay. We will continue to do everything we can to avoid delays that impact your travel. And our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”
Overall, of the approximately 64,000 TSA employees, more than 61,000 are working without pay during the government shutdown, which is now in its second week.
Democrats hold Republicans to bear responsibility for the shutdown, arguing they need to negotiate health care premiums as part of an effort to reach a deal on federal spending.
Airports that have refused to show the DHS video include LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, John F. Kennedy, Charlotte Douglas International, Seattle-Tacoma, San Francisco, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Phoenix International and Colorado Springs.
“The Port Authority’s long-standing policies prevent the broadcast of politically partisan messages at our facilities, so airports do not broadcast the video on airport-controlled screens,” the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates New York City’s three major airports, said in a statement.
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employee moves bags through a security checkpoint at Hollywood Burbank Airport during the first day of a partial US government shutdown in Burbank, California, US, on October 1, 2025.
Daniel Cole/Reuters
In a statement, Portland International Airport in Oregon said it “did not provide consent to play the video in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits the use of public property for political purposes and messages.”
The statement goes on to say, “In addition, Oregon law provides that no public employee may promote or oppose any political committee, party, or affiliation. We believe that consenting to the playback of this video on Port assets would violate Oregon law.”
Some airports, such as Akron-Canton Airport in northeast Ohio, said digital video screens in their facilities are designed for “static content that supports wayfinding and essential travel information.”
In response to a request for comment about some airports that refused to play the video, DHS provided a statement from Undersecretary Tricia McLaughlin: “TSA’s top priority is to ensure that travelers have the safest, most enjoyable and efficient airport experience possible. However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government and, because of this, most of our TSA employees TSA are working without pay. While this creates challenges for our people, our security operations remain largely intact at this time. It is unfortunate that our workforce has been put in this position due to the political game. “Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”
