Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s video message for travelers about the government shutdown is not being aired in at least five airports because it blames Democrats for the lapse in federal funding.
Oregon’s Portland International Airport, Washington’s Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and three airports in New York — Niagara Falls International Airport, Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Westchester County Airport — are not broadcasting Noem’s message because it is “political” and “inappropriate,” according to multiplereports.
“It is TSA’s top priority to make sure 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,” Noem says in the video, meant to play at TSA checkpoints in every public airport in the US amid the government shutdown.
“Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says in the PSA. U.S. Department of Homeland Security.“And because of this, many of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA employees are working without pay,” the DHS secretary adds.
Noem, who oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), sent the video to airports last week.
“We will continue to do all that we can to avoid delays that will impact your travel,” Noem continues. “And our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”
The partial government shutdown began on Oct. 1, after all but three Senate Democrats refused to vote for a continuing resolution that would’ve kept Washington funded through Nov. 21.
Noem acknowledged that TSA operations are impacted during the shutdown. APA Port of Seattle spokesperson said the “political nature” of Noem’s video is why it won’t be playing for travelers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
“The Port of Seattle will not play the video on its screens at SEA airport, due to the political nature of the content,” the spokesperson told the Seattle Times, adding, “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.”
Here’s the latest on the government shutdown
- Federal workers face mounting financial strain, new uncertainty as gov’t shutdown drags on
- Thanksgiving travel nightmare looms due to government shutdown, GOP leaders warn
- The government shutdown is hitting the housing market hard
- Several major airports refuse to air Noem video blaming Dems for government shutdown
A Portland International Airport official argued that the video might violate the Hatch Act, which restricts federal employees from engaging in certain political activities.
“We didn’t consent to playing it, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits using public assets for political purposes and messaging,” the official told a local ABC News affiliate.
“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 official added.
Here's what we know about the government shutdown
- The Trump administration revealed in a court filing that more than 4,000 federal workers were fired on October 10 as a result of the ongoing partial government shutdown.
- The bulk of the layoffs took place at the Treasury Department and the Department of Health and Human Services, where approximately 1,446 and up to 1,200 employees, respectively, were fired, according to reports.
- Airports across the country have experienced delays this week because of a shortage of controllers.
- President Trump said on October 11 that he would use his authority as commander in chief to pay military troops despite the government shutdown.
- The shutdown began on Oct. 1 after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of federal subsidies for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins described Noem’s message as “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”
“The PSA politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA Operations, and the County finds the tone to be unnecessarily alarmist — particularly as it relates to operations at Westchester County Airport,” Jenkins, a Democrat, said in a statement. “This video will not be displayed at Westchester County Airport.”
“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,” he added. “As County Executive, I believe our residents deserve clear, honest and nonpartisan communication — especially when it comes to national security, government shutdown impacts, and public safety.”
DHS has asked airports nationwide to play the PSA amid the government shutdown. APA spokesperson for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), which operates both Niagara Falls International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport, said the video violates NFTA’s “long-standing policy” banning “partisan messaging in its facilities.”
“Therefore, we are not airing this video on airport-controlled screens,” the NFTA spokesperson told a local NBC News affiliate in western New York.
A DHS spokesperson told The Post that Noem’s public service announcement “is rolling out in airports across the country.”






