Airports Reject Video Blaming Shutdown on Democrats

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House recently acknowledged that a video featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming the ongoing government shutdown on Democrats is being shown at every public airport in the country. However, local reports indicate that several airports from Washington state to New York are refusing to display it.

Noem’s video aims to inform travelers in Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lines about how the government shutdown impacts TSA operations, stating, “Many of our operations are affected and most TSA employees are working without pay.” She expressed hope for a resolution with Congress.

Travelers at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) will not see this video. A spokesman for the Port of Seattle said, “The Port of Seattle will not play the video on its screens at SEA Airport, due to the political nature of the content.” Spokane International Airport also opted out, citing its “First Amendment Policy” against political messaging in public spaces.

In Oregon, Portland International Airport declined to show the video, claiming it could violate the Hatch Act, which prohibits government employees from partisan political activities. A spokesperson for PDX explained, “We believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits using public assets for political purposes.”

In New York, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, which oversees Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Niagara Falls International Airport, has rejected the video as part of a long-standing policy against partisan messaging. Similarly, Westchester County Airport determined the video’s messaging was “inappropriate” and “politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown.”

The political tensions surrounding the government shutdown continue as local officials and airport authorities navigate the implications of such messaging on federal operations and public perception.