Political Tensions Rise as Airports Refuse to Air DHS Secretary’s Shutdown Video
In a striking development amid the ongoing partial government shutdown, several major airports across the United States, including New York City’s JFK International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International, have refused to broadcast a controversial video message from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The 36-second clip, which was sent to public airports nationwide with instructions to play it at TSA checkpoints, has sparked significant backlash for what many airport authorities describe as “politically partisan” content. The message explicitly blames Democrats for the shutdown that began on October 1st, when most Senate Democrats voted against a continuing resolution that would have funded the government through November 21st. This situation highlights the growing tension between federal agencies and local authorities as the shutdown continues to affect transportation services and federal workers across the country.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul didn’t mince words in her response to Noem’s video, stating, “When Kristi Noem isn’t busy trying to defund the police in New York, she’s apparently hard at work subjecting travelers to obviously false and nakedly partisan messaging.” The Democratic governor emphasized that New York would focus on “keeping the flying public safe—and that means not playing political ads in our airports.” The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees several major airports in the region, cited “longstanding policies” against political content on airport-controlled screens as the reason for rejecting the video. This stance has been echoed by airport authorities in Las Vegas, Charlotte, Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, Seattle, and other cities, creating a nationwide pushback against what many view as an inappropriate use of public spaces for political messaging during a crisis.
The content of Noem’s message itself is at the center of the controversy. In the video, the DHS Secretary begins by assuring travelers that TSA’s top priority is to provide “the most pleasant and efficient airport experience as possible while we keep you safe.” However, she quickly pivots to politics, declaring, “Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government. And because of this, many of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA employees are working without pay.” Noem concludes with what critics view as a particularly partisan statement: “Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.” This explicit assignment of blame to one political party has raised concerns about using federal agencies and public facilities for what appears to be partisan messaging during a time when TSA workers are continuing to perform essential duties without compensation.
The shutdown’s impact on transportation security has created a challenging environment for travelers and airport staff alike. TSA workers are among the approximately 600,000 federal employees currently working without pay, creating potential morale and staffing issues at a time when air travel security remains critically important. While Noem’s video attempts to reassure travelers that the agency is doing everything possible to “avoid delays that will impact your travel,” the message’s political tone has overshadowed these assurances. DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin expressed frustration with the situation, stating, “It’s unfortunate our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship,” though she reiterated the administration’s stance that “Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government,” echoing the partisan framing that has drawn criticism.
The rejection of Noem’s video by multiple major airports represents a significant rebuff to the Department of Homeland Security’s communication strategy during the shutdown. Beyond the New York-area hubs, smaller regional airports like Niagara Falls International Airport, Buffalo Niagara International Airport, and Westchester County Airport have also declined to air the message. This widespread refusal highlights the delicate balance that transportation hubs must maintain as they navigate federal regulations and oversight while also adhering to their own policies regarding political content in public spaces. The situation creates a complex dynamic where local and state authorities are effectively filtering federal messaging they deem too partisan for public consumption, raising questions about communication protocols during government crises.
As the partial shutdown continues, this dispute over airport messaging serves as a microcosm of the larger political divisions affecting governance in America. The stark contrast between the DHS’s approach—directly blaming Democrats for the shutdown—and the bipartisan tone many local officials prefer in public spaces underscores how differently various levels of government view their responsibilities during political impasses. With TSA workers continuing to perform essential security functions without pay, and travelers potentially facing disruptions as the shutdown persists, the controversy over this video adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging situation. Whether this standoff between federal messaging and local airport policies will affect resolution of the larger government funding dispute remains to be seen, but it clearly illustrates how political polarization can complicate even routine governmental communications during times of crisis.
