Major airports across the United States have taken a stand against airing a controversial video from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, which blames Democrats in Congress for the ongoing federal government shutdown. The video, just 30 seconds long, was rolled out to airports nationwide last week at the request of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but it has faced widespread rejection from coast to coast, from New York to Florida to Nevada, as reported by multiple outlets including ABC News and CNBC.
In the video, Secretary Noem addresses travelers directly, stating, "It is TSA's top priority to make you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience as possible while we keep you safe. However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the government. And because of this, many of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA employees are working without pay. We will continue to do all that we can to avoid delays that will impact your travel. And our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government." This message, echoing the administration’s broader stance, was intended for display on screens near passenger screening lines at airports across the country.
But the response from airport authorities has been overwhelmingly negative. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International airports, released a statement emphasizing, "The Port Authority’s longstanding policies prevent airing of politically partisan messages at our facilities, so airports are not airing the video on airport-controlled screens." This sentiment was echoed by other major airports, including Chicago O'Hare and Midway, Seattle-Tacoma, San Francisco, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Charlotte Douglas International, Portland International, Miami International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Harry Reid International in Las Vegas, and Cleveland Hopkins International.
Airport officials have cited a variety of reasons for their refusals, but the common thread is a commitment to keeping their facilities free from political messaging. The Chicago Department of Aviation, which manages O'Hare and Midway, explained, "Advertising at Chicago's airports, including promotional materials and public service announcements, must comply with CDA's Advertising Guidelines, which prohibit content that endorses or opposes any named political party. These guidelines help ensure the airports remain welcoming and neutral spaces for all travelers."
Portland International Airport in Oregon was particularly explicit in its reasoning, referencing both federal and state laws: "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," stated Molly Prescott, aviation communications manager for the Port of Portland. She added, "Additionally, Oregon law states no public employee can promote or oppose any political committee, party, or affiliation. We believe consenting to playing this video on Port assets would violate Oregon law."
The Hatch Act, a federal law designed to restrict the political activities of federal employees and certain state and local employees involved in federally funded programs, has been repeatedly cited as a reason for rejecting the video. Airports in Las Vegas and Charlotte also referenced this law, with the Las Vegas airport spokesperson noting, "As a facility that hosts federal operations, we remain mindful of the Hatch Act's restrictions on political activity in government workplaces." Charlotte Douglas International Airport added that "TSA does not own any monitors at the airport's checkpoints. The limited digital screens owned by CLT are designated for static content that supports wayfinding, provides essential travel information and promotes CLT's revenue-generating services."
Some airports, like Akron-Canton in Ohio, have simply stated that their screens are reserved for static content such as wayfinding and essential travel information, rather than videos of any kind. Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport both declined to show the video, citing policies against political messaging.
Despite the widespread refusals, there are a few exceptions. Detroit Metro Airport has reportedly aired Noem’s video on monitors located in TSA-leased areas. Meanwhile, the Austin–Bergstrom International Airport in Texas noted that it is unable to show any video or digital content at TSA checkpoints simply because there are no video monitors installed at those locations.
The shutdown, now in its second week as of October 15, 2025, began on October 1. The impasse centers on Democrats’ insistence that any funding deal must include an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Republicans, for their part, have refused to include these provisions, leading to the current stalemate. Noem’s video and the administration’s messaging are consistent with statements from President Donald Trump and other top officials, who have placed the blame squarely on Congressional Democrats for not joining Republicans to pass a stopgap funding bill.
The effects of the shutdown are being felt acutely by TSA employees and air traffic controllers. Of the TSA's roughly 64,000 employees, more than 61,000 are working without pay during the shutdown, according to ABC News. Air traffic controllers have also been impacted, with shortages causing flight delays and disruptions, particularly over the recent Columbus Day holiday weekend. Last week, delays were reported at airports in Burbank, California, and Nashville, Tennessee, due to these shortages. Controllers received their first partial paycheck on Tuesday, October 14, but if the shutdown continues, they will miss a full paycheck on October 28.
In an effort to draw public attention to their plight, air traffic controllers have distributed pamphlets at airports in New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, urging travelers to press lawmakers to end the shutdown. The memory of the 2019 government shutdown, which lasted more than a month and caused significant disruptions to air travel, looms large over the current situation. During that shutdown, some airport security checkpoints were closed due to elevated sick calls from unpaid TSA screeners.
Despite these challenges, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that security operations remain largely unimpacted for now. "It is TSA's top priority to ensure that travelers have the most safe, pleasant and efficient airport experience possible. However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, most of our TSA employees are working without pay. While this creates challenges for our people, our security operations remain largely unimpacted at this time. It’s unfortunate our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship. Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government."
As the shutdown drags on, the refusal of airports to air overtly political content underscores the tension between federal agencies’ messaging and local policies designed to keep public spaces neutral. With both sides in Congress showing little sign of compromise, travelers and airport workers alike are left hoping for a swift resolution to the funding impasse that has upended not just paychecks, but the very tone and tenor of America’s airports.