
Airports across Democrat-run states are refusing to air a Department of Homeland Security video from Secretary Kristi Noem, after she boldly called out Democrats in Congress for causing the federal government shutdown.
At least five major airports — including Portland International (Oregon), Seattle-Tacoma (Washington), and three airports in New York — have banned the message from being shown at TSA checkpoints, according to multiple reports.
In the video sent to airports nationwide, Secretary Noem explains how the shutdown is directly tied to Democratic obstruction:
“Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted. Most of our TSA employees are working without pay.”
Noem went on to assure travelers that her team is doing everything possible to keep lines moving:
“We’re doing everything possible to prevent travel disruptions, and we sincerely hope Democrats in Congress will soon understand the need to get the government running again.”
Airports Bow to Political Pressure
The Port of Seattle quickly refused to play the message, telling The Seattle Times that it would not air “political content.”
Officials claimed they were promoting “bipartisan cooperation,” while TSA workers continued performing essential duties without paychecks.
Portland International Airport took things even further, citing the Hatch Act, a decades-old rule meant to prevent federal employees from engaging in political activity.
Airport officials argued the rule prevents “the use of public assets for political purposes.”
In New York, Westchester County Airport labeled Noem’s remarks “unacceptable and inconsistent with public values.”
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, which oversees both Buffalo Niagara and Niagara Falls International airports, said it has a “long-standing policy” against political messaging — a rule many conservatives believe is being applied selectively to quiet opposing viewpoints.
Censorship or Accountability?
Critics argue this is yet another case of liberal censorship — where government agencies and publicly funded facilities silence any message that challenges the left’s narrative.
Supporters of Secretary Noem say she’s simply telling the truth: Democrats caused this shutdown, and now they don’t want Americans to hear about it.
Even some TSA employees told Forbes that they felt “sickened” by the backlash against Noem, insisting she was just being transparent about why their paychecks have stopped.
The Bigger Picture
The ongoing shutdown is part of a larger standoff over President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, which Democrats continue blocking over health care spending.
While millions of Americans are dealing with travel chaos, missed paychecks, and delayed government services, the Biden-era Democrats in Congress seem more focused on playing politics than helping workers and families.
For many, the airports’ refusal to share Noem’s message sends a clear signal: When Democrats are at fault, the truth gets grounded.