Travelers passing through America’s airports this October have encountered an unusual sight: screens that are conspicuously blank, where a government video message should be playing. The video in question, produced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, directly blames Democrats in Congress for the ongoing government shutdown and the resulting disruption to airport operations. However, a growing number of major U.S. airports are refusing to play the message, sparking a national debate about partisanship, public communication, and the legal boundaries of political speech in government spaces.
It all began in early October 2025, when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to play a so-called “public service video” at airports across the country. According to Fox News, the video features Secretary Noem addressing travelers directly: “It is TSA’s top priority that you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience as possible while we keep you safe. However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are working without pay.” Noem continues, “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 our government.”
The message’s overtly political tone immediately drew criticism—and resistance. In Albany International Airport, New York, footage of Noem’s announcement playing on a terminal screen quickly circulated online, with viewers questioning why such a partisan statement was being broadcast in a public space. According to the Times Union and CBS6 Albany, the video had been aired without the airport’s consent. This incident set off a wave of refusals at other major airports.
Airports including Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International, Portland International, Seattle-Tacoma, Charlotte Douglas International, John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Buffalo Niagara, Niagara Falls, Westchester County, Spokane International, and Springfield-Branson National have all declined to show the video. Their reasons, while varied, center on a common theme: the need to keep public facilities free from political messaging.
“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,” a spokesperson for the Port of Portland told The Hill. The Hatch Act, a federal law dating back to 1939, restricts political activities by federal employees to ensure government programs are run in a nonpartisan manner. Oregon law, the spokesperson added, also bars public employees from promoting or opposing any political committee, party, or affiliation. “We believe consenting to playing this video on Port assets would violate Oregon law.”
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport echoed these concerns. “We continue to urge bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown and are working to find ways to support federal employees working without pay at SEA during the shutdown,” a Port of Seattle spokesperson told the Seattle Times. At the same time, the airport made it clear that the video would not be played “due to the political nature of the content.”
Other airports cited similar policies. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty, told Nexstar that its longstanding rules “prevent airing of politically partisan messages at our facilities, so airports are not airing the video on airport-controlled screens.” In Buffalo and Niagara Falls, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority pointed to codified regulations that bar partisan messaging in its facilities. Westchester County Airport’s response was even more pointed. “It is inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials,” said County Executive Ken Jenkins in a statement. “At a time when we should be focused on ensuring stability, collaboration and preparedness, this type of messaging only distracts from the real issues and undermines public trust.” Jenkins also called the video’s tone “unnecessarily alarmist.”
Airports in Phoenix, Charlotte, and Springfield-Branson also declined to air the message, citing policies against political displays. In Las Vegas, a Harry Reid International Airport spokesperson told KLAS 8 that the video’s content “did not align with the neutral, informational nature of the public service announcements typically shown at the security checkpoints.”
Not all airports were even approached. In Boston Logan International, for example, TSA did not request the video be played, and the airport has no video screens at TSA checkpoints. Similarly, Denver International reported that it had not been asked to show the video and lacks the necessary monitors.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has continued its campaign to assign blame for the shutdown to Democrats, not just through airport messaging but also on the official websites of the State Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These efforts have drawn fierce criticism and allegations of Hatch Act violations. According to New York Magazine, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have called for an investigation, though with little expectation of immediate change.
The shutdown’s impact on airport operations is already being felt. Most TSA employees and air traffic controllers are working without pay, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported an uptick in air traffic controllers calling out sick at several locations. Travel industry analyst Jenry Harteveldt told the Associated Press he was “gravely concerned” that a prolonged shutdown could “possibly ruin” travel plans through the Thanksgiving holiday. “The risk is growing by the day,” Harteveldt warned.
As the shutdown drags on, the dispute over airport messaging has become a flashpoint in the broader battle over how—and by whom—the story of the shutdown is told. The refusal of so many airports to air Noem’s video underscores a widespread desire to keep public spaces free from political blame games, even as the administration pushes its narrative through every available channel. Whether this standoff will change the course of the shutdown remains to be seen, but for now, travelers can expect their airport screens to remain silent on the subject—at least when it comes to partisan finger-pointing.
