U.S. Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem, flanked by Deputy Administrator of the Transportation Safety Administration Ha McNeil and Adam Stahl, TSA Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator, speaks throughout a information convention at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport on July 8, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
Kent Nishimura | Getty Photos
Main U.S. airports from New York to Washington state are refusing to air a video exhibiting Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats in Congress for the continuing federal authorities shutdown.
A few of these airports cited the political nature of Noem’s message for not exhibiting the video, saying that it violated their insurance policies.
The Transportation Safety Administration despatched requests to airports nationwide to air the video on screens close to passenger screening strains.
Noem, within the video, says, “It’s TSA’s high precedence to just remember to have probably the most nice and environment friendly airport expertise as attainable whereas we hold you protected,” in keeping with MSNBC.
“Nevertheless, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal authorities, and due to this, a lot of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA workers are working with out pay,” says Noem, whose division oversees the TSA.
Noem’s message is according to feedback by President Donald Trump and different high administration officers, who for the reason that shutdown started on Oct. 1 have blamed congressional Democrats for not becoming a member of Republicans to go a stopgap funding invoice to renew regular authorities operations.
Democrats refuse to budge on their demand that any funding deal prolong enhanced Inexpensive Care Act tax credit, that are on account of expire on the finish of this 12 months. Republicans, in flip, refuse to incorporate that provision.
Air site visitors controllers resume operations a day after Hollywood Burbank Airport operated for hours and not using a staffed management tower on account of staffing shortages amid the U.S. authorities shutdown, in Burbank, California, U.S., Oct. 7, 2025.
Daniel Cole | Reuters
The airports that refused to indicate Noem’s video embrace the three main airports within the New York Metropolis space: John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport and LaGuardia Airport in Queens, and Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport in New Jersey.
“The Port Authority’s longstanding insurance policies stop airing of politically partisan messages at our services, so airports will not be airing the video on airport-controlled screens,” stated a spokeswoman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates these three airports.
The Chicago Division of Aviation, which operates O’Hare Worldwide Airport and Chicago Halfway Worldwide Airport, additionally declined DHS’s request.
“Promoting at Chicago’s airports, together with promotional supplies and public service bulletins, should adjust to CDA’s Promoting Pointers, which prohibit content material that endorses or opposes any named political celebration,” the division stated in an e mail. “These pointers assist make sure the airports stay welcoming and impartial areas for all vacationers.”
Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport and Portland Worldwide Airport in Oregon additionally refused to indicate the video.
The Portland airport “didn’t consent to taking part in the video in its present type, as we imagine the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public belongings for political functions and messaging,” Molly Prescott, aviation communications supervisor for the Port of Portland, which operates the airport, advised CNBC by e mail.
The Hatch Act prohibits sure political actions by federal authorities workers and goals to guard federal workers from political coercion at work.
“Moreover, Oregon legislation states no public worker can promote or oppose any political committee, celebration, or affiliation,” Prescott stated. ” We imagine consenting to taking part in this video on Port belongings would violate Oregon legislation.”
A spokesperson for Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport stated that exhibiting the video would violate native legal guidelines and airport insurance policies.
“Moreover, TSA doesn’t personal any displays on the airport’s checkpoints,” the Charlotte airport spokesperson stated. “The restricted digital screens owned by CLT are designated for static content material that helps wayfinding, gives important journey info and promotes CLT’s revenue-generating providers.”
Spokespeople for Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport and Harry Reid Worldwide Airport in Las Vegas stated these services declined to put up the video due to insurance policies barring political content material.
A spokesperson for the Las Vegas airport stated that “as a facility that hosts federal operations, we stay conscious of the Hatch Act’s restrictions on political exercise in authorities workplaces.”
Cleveland Hopkins Worldwide Airport has reportedly refused to indicate Noem’s video.
CNBC reached out to varied airports throughout the U.S. searching for touch upon whether or not they’re airing the video.
A consultant for the Detroit Metro Airport stated that Noem’s video is being proven on displays in TSA-leased areas.
A spokesperson for Austin–Bergstrom Worldwide Airport stated the TSA checkpoints on the airport will not be outfitted with video displays, so they’re unable to indicate any video or digital content material.
In a press release to CNBC, Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary, reiterated feedback that Noem made on the video.
“Whereas this creates challenges for our individuals, our safety operations stay largely unimpacted right now,” McLaughlin added. “It is unlucky our workforce has been put on this place on account of political gamesmanship,” she stated.
“Our hope is that Democrats will quickly acknowledge the significance of opening the federal government.”
A scarcity of air site visitors controllers throughout the federal government shutdown has prompted flight delays and disruptions, CNBC reported final week.
On Friday, airways advised vacationers to brace for delays over the Columbus Day vacation weekend on account of staffing shortages.
Final week, air site visitors controller shortages contributed to delays at airports together with Burbank, California, and Nashville, Tennessee.
Air journey was snarled in the course of the greater than month-long authorities shutdown that resulted in January 2019, hours after a shortfall of air site visitors controllers disrupted flights within the New York space.
Earlier than that, some airport safety checkpoints had been closed on account of elevated sick calls from Transportation Safety Administration screeners who’re additionally working with out pay.
On Tuesday, air site visitors controllers acquired their first partial paycheck. If the shutdown continues, they may miss a full paycheck on Oct. 28.
Controllers handed out pamphlets at airports in New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicagoon Tuesday to induce the general public to press lawmakers to finish the shutdown.
