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 doable whereas we maintain you protected,” in line with MSNBC.
“Nonetheless, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal authorities, and due to this, lots of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA staff are working with out pay,” says Noem, whose division oversees the TSA.
Noem’s message is in step with feedback by President Donald Trump and different high administration officers, who because the 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 Reasonably priced Care Act tax credit, that are because of expire on the finish of this yr. 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 because 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 point out Noem’s video embody 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 amenities, so airports aren’t airing the video on airport-controlled screens,” mentioned 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 occasion,” the division mentioned in an electronic mail. “These tips 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 point out the video.
The Portland airport “didn’t consent to enjoying 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, informed CNBC by electronic mail.
The Hatch Act prohibits sure political actions by federal authorities staff and goals to guard federal staff from political coercion at work.
“Moreover, Oregon regulation states no public worker can promote or oppose any political committee, occasion, or affiliation,” Prescott mentioned. ” We imagine consenting to enjoying this video on Port belongings would violate Oregon regulation.”
A spokesperson for Charlotte Douglas Worldwide Airport mentioned that exhibiting the video would violate native legal guidelines and airport insurance policies.
“Moreover, TSA doesn’t personal any screens on the airport’s checkpoints,” the Charlotte airport spokesperson mentioned. “The restricted digital screens owned by CLT are designated for static content material that helps wayfinding, supplies important journey data and promotes CLT’s revenue-generating companies.”
Spokespeople for Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport and Harry Reid Worldwide Airport in Las Vegas mentioned these amenities declined to publish the video due to insurance policies barring political content material.
A spokesperson for the Las Vegas airport mentioned 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 point out Noem’s video.
CNBC reached out to numerous airports throughout the U.S. searching for touch upon whether or not they’re airing the video.
A consultant for the Detroit Metro Airport mentioned that Noem’s video is being proven on screens in TSA-leased areas.
A spokesperson for Austin–Bergstrom Worldwide Airport mentioned the TSA checkpoints on the airport aren’t outfitted with video screens, so they’re unable to point out any video or digital content material.
In an announcement to CNBC, Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary, reiterated feedback that Noem made on the video.
“Whereas this creates challenges for our folks, our safety operations stay largely unimpacted presently,” McLaughlin added. “It is unlucky our workforce has been put on this place because of political gamesmanship,” she mentioned.
“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 triggered flight delays and disruptions, CNBC reported final week.
On Friday, airways informed vacationers to brace for delays over the Columbus Day vacation weekend because 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 throughout the greater than month-long authorities shutdown that led to 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 have been closed because 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.
