Travelers passing through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport this week may have noticed something missing from the usual din of airport announcements: a video message from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, which blames Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown. The Port of Seattle, which oversees the airport, made a pointed decision to keep the video off its screens, citing its overtly political nature and raising questions about the boundaries between public service communication and partisan messaging.
The controversy stems from a shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, after U.S. Senators failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund the federal government. As the days ticked by and the shutdown entered its second week, the impact on federal workers and essential services became increasingly visible. According to Reuters, the Noem video began airing at airports across the country on October 9, but Seattle and Portland both refused to participate.
In the video, Secretary Noem addresses commercial airline passengers as they pass through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints. She states, "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 the government." The message, while intended to inform, struck officials in Seattle as more political than practical.
"The Port of Seattle will not play the video on its screens at SEA airport, due to the political nature of the content," a spokesperson for the Port explained in an emailed statement, as reported by The Seattle Times. The spokesperson added, "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."
Seattle’s stance echoes that of Portland International Airport. A spokesperson for the Port of Portland told KATU News that the video might violate the Hatch Act, a federal law that limits political activities of government employees, and also runs afoul of Oregon state law. "We didn’t consent to playing it, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits using public assets for political purposes and messaging. Additionally, Oregon law states that 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 spokesperson said.
The TSA, for its part, has not yet commented on the controversy, leaving airports to interpret the rules and risks on their own. The Department of Homeland Security also did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters.
The government shutdown has already taken a tangible toll on airport operations. TSA officers and air traffic controllers, deemed essential workers, are required to show up for work even without pay. In recent days, flight delays have been reported due to shortages of air traffic controllers. As The Seattle Times notes, the shutdown’s impact on the roughly 77,100 federal workers in Washington state remains unclear, but the stress is mounting as the standoff drags on.
Political finger-pointing has become a hallmark of the shutdown era. While Noem’s video places the blame squarely on Democrats, the reality is more complicated. Both Republicans and Democrats have traded accusations over who is responsible for the funding lapse. The Trump administration, for example, has displayed similar messaging blaming Democrats on the websites of federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice.
Historically, government shutdowns are nothing new, though their causes and consequences can vary widely. The longest in U.S. history occurred from late 2018 to early 2019, lasting 35 days as lawmakers battled over funding for President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall. The current 2025 shutdown, by contrast, is rooted in a standoff between Democrats and Republicans over proposed cuts to health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. The inability to find common ground has left federal employees in limbo and travelers facing mounting inconveniences.
The use of public assets—like airport screens—for partisan messaging is a particularly thorny issue. The Hatch Act, referenced by officials in both Seattle and Portland, is designed to prevent federal employees from engaging in political activity while on duty or using government resources to influence elections. The law is intended to preserve the neutrality of public service, but its application can be murky, especially in high-stakes moments like a government shutdown.
Oregon’s state law goes even further, explicitly barring public employees from using their positions to promote or oppose any political party or committee. This legal backdrop made the decision for Portland officials relatively straightforward, but the ethical dilemma persists nationwide: Where is the line between informing the public and politicizing essential services?
For many airport workers, the shutdown’s effects are not abstract. TSA officers and air traffic controllers continue to perform their duties without pay, keeping the nation’s skies safe even as the political impasse drags on. The Port of Seattle has pledged to support these employees as best it can during the shutdown, though specifics remain to be seen.
Meanwhile, the traveling public is caught in the crossfire. As flight delays mount and uncertainty grows, passengers are left to wonder when the political stalemate will end. The Port of Seattle’s call for bipartisan cooperation reflects a widespread desire for a swift resolution—one that prioritizes the needs of workers and travelers over partisan point-scoring.
The refusal to air Secretary Noem’s video may seem like a small act, but it underscores a broader debate about the role of public institutions in political discourse. As the shutdown grinds on, the choices made by local officials, federal agencies, and lawmakers alike will continue to shape not only the day-to-day experience of Americans but also the boundaries of political communication in public spaces.
For now, at least, travelers in Seattle and Portland can move through security without being drawn into the latest round of Washington’s blame game—a small comfort in a time of growing frustration and uncertainty.
