Major U.S. airports are refusing to broadcast a Homeland Security video featuring Secretary Kristi Noem, which blames Democrats for the federal government shutdown and its impact on TSA operations. Airports cite policies against political messaging and concerns about the Hatch Act.
Airports across the United States, including major hubs like JFK, LaGuardia, Chicago O'Hare, and Harry Reid International, are collectively declining to air a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) video. In the video, Secretary Kristi Noem directly attributes the federal government shutdown and its adverse effects on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations—including employees working without pay—to Democrats. The airports' rationale for refusal stems from their strict policies and regulations that prohibit the display of partisan political messaging within their facilities. Many also express concerns that airing such content could potentially violate the 1939 Hatch Act, which limits political activities by federal employees. Despite DHS's intent to distribute the video nationally, airports in diverse regions, including those in traditionally "red states," are prioritizing neutrality and avoiding entanglement in partisan political disputes, underscoring a significant pushback against perceived government propaganda during the shutdown.
