October 9, 2025
DHS airs Noem video at airports blaming Democrats for shutdown
Airports air partisan video blaming Democrats for shutdown
🏛️Government🏢Legislative Process
On Oct. 9, 2025 the Trump administration began airing a video at airports in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blames Democrats for a government shutdown.\n\nThe video, first obtained by Fox News, quotes Noem saying, "However, 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. " DHS confirmed on Oct. 9 that the video had begun airing at some U.S. airports.\n\nMultiple major airports refused to display the clip, citing policies forbidding partisan messaging and potential Hatch Act issues.\n\nThe shutdown has contributed to staffing strains in aviation, including about 13,000 air traffic controllers and tens of thousands of TSA employees required to work without pay, and to thousands of flight delays at U.S. airports.
The video was first obtained by Fox News and contains this line from Secretary Noem: "However, 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.".
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Oct. 9, 2025 that the message was being rolled out to airports.
Many major airports — including facilities in New York, Seattle, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Charlotte, and Chicago — declined to play the clip, citing policies against partisan content and potential violations of the Hatch Act.
Reporting states roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 TSA officers remain on duty during the shutdown and have not been paid, contributing to flight delays and cancellations.
🏛️Government🏢Legislative Process
People, bills, and sources
Kristi Noem
Secretary of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security
Federal agency
Multiple airport authorities
Airport operators (Port Authority of NY & NJ, Port of Seattle, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Chicago Department of Aviation, etc.)
What You Can Do
1
civic action|understanding
Ask your airport which monitors are airport-owned versus TSA-owned
If you want to know whether an airport can refuse DHS content, ask the airport operator which checkpoint screens it controls and what its advertising policy says.
use the airport's public affairs address on its official site
2
civic action|learning more
Report Hatch Act or ethics concerns
File complaints or inquiries with the Office of Special Counsel or your congressional oversight offices for alleged misuse of federal resources for partisan messaging.
Use the OSC's web form on its site