Airports Refuse to Show Video of Kristi Noem Blaming Democrats for Shutdown - Here's Why
- Cloud 9 News
- Oct 15
- 3 min read
October 15, 2025 - Washington, D.C. – As the federal government shutdown grinds into its 15th day, causing widespread flight delays and furloughing thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, more than a dozen major U.S. airports have rebuffed a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directive to broadcast a pointed video from Secretary Kristi Noem. In the 30-second clip, Noem squarely blames Democrats in Congress for the impasse, prompting airports from New York to Nevada to cite violations of policies against partisan messaging and potential breaches of the Hatch Act—a federal law prohibiting political activity by government employees.
The video, distributed last week by acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, was intended to loop on monitors near security checkpoints to explain operational disruptions. Noem, speaking against a plain blue backdrop, states: "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, and because of this many of our operations are impacted and most of our T.S.A. employees are working without pay." She closes by pledging to minimize delays and expressing hope that "Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government."
Airports controlling about 70% of U.S. passenger traffic have opted out, arguing the message veers into partisan territory. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the world's busiest airport with 104 million passengers in 2024, confirmed it won't air the PSA. Similarly, New York's Port Authority—overseeing JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark—rejected it, stating policies "prevent airing of politically partisan messages." Chicago's O'Hare, Los Angeles International (LAX), Dallas/Fort Worth, and Denver International followed suit.
In the Pacific Northwest, Seattle-Tacoma International invoked the Hatch Act, with spokesperson Perry Cooper noting the video's "political nature." Portland International and Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport echoed those concerns. Westchester County Airport in New York called it "unnecessarily alarmist" and trust-undermining. Even in Republican strongholds, Phoenix Sky Harbor (Arizona) and Charlotte Douglas (North Carolina) declined, citing similar bans. Albany International briefly displayed it on TSA-owned screens before pulling it to comply with nonpartisan guidelines.
Detroit Metro remains one of the few holding out, airing the clip on federally controlled monitors.
The partial shutdown, which began October 1 over disputes on federal funding—particularly Democratic demands for Affordable Care Act subsidies—has furloughed over 2 million federal workers, including more than 61,000 of TSA's 64,000 employees, who must work without pay. This has led to a 20% increase in flight delays and a 15% absenteeism rate at checkpoints, per TSA data. Economists estimate weekly losses topping $1.5 billion, with air traffic control towers like Hollywood Burbank's briefly unstaffed on October 7.
The administration, including President Trump, has consistently attributed the stalemate to Democrats' "recalcitrance," rejecting a clean funding bill. A separate TSA memo echoed this rhetoric, irking some workers who told Forbes they felt "sickened" by the politicization.
The backlash intensified Wednesday when Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) urged the Office of Special Counsel to probe Noem for Hatch Act violations, arguing the video "can only be reasonably interpreted as a partisan message" to sway voters by maligning Democrats while omitting Republican control of the White House and Congress. The Hatch Act aims to ensure federal programs remain nonpartisan, barring Cabinet officials from political advocacy in official capacities.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the PSA as factual, lamenting that "our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship." Former TSA director Keith Jeffries called it inappropriate, noting federal employees typically avoid such "charged messaging."
Travelers on social media are divided: Some praised the "honesty" amid frustrations, while others decried "politics at the gate." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged an end to the "finger-pointing."
During the 2018-19 shutdown—the longest in history—airports aired neutral alerts, avoiding blame. This episode highlights a rare bipartisan pushback, with one-third of U.S. passengers now shielded from the message. As negotiations stall, the silent screens at security lines serve as a stark reminder: Even in transit purgatory, neutrality reigns.
Comments