Airports in the New York City region are declining to air a video featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who criticizes Democrats for the government shutdown. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has condemned Noem’s remarks as both “false” and “blatantly partisan.”
Airports such as John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty are among several nationwide travel hubs opting not to display a 36-second video at TSA checkpoints. They cite the politically charged nature of the content as the reason for their decision, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
“When Kristi Noem isn’t busy undermining New York’s police funding, she seems to be focused on sending clearly false and partisan messages to travelers,” Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement.
In the clip, Noem states, “Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening up government,” fitting for a public service announcement yet steeped in political undertones.
“Here in New York, we’re dedicated to ensuring the flying public’s safety, which means avoiding political ads at our airports,” she added.
This intense footage warns travelers of potential chaos and staffing shortages stemming from the shutdown, and it will not be aired in airports run by New York state agencies, officials confirmed.
The Port Authority, which also manages Stewart International Airport in Newburgh and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, stated that Noem’s video breaks their “long-standing policy” against displaying political content on airport screens.
Noem, overseeing the TSA, distributed the video to all U.S. public airports last week, urging them to show it at TSA checkpoints.
The video insists, “TSA’s primary goal is to provide the most enjoyable and efficient airport experience while maintaining safety. However, Democrats in Congress won’t allocate necessary federal funding,” prompting challenges for TSA operations.
“Consequently, many TSA staff members are working without pay,” Noem explained.
“We’re committed to minimizing delays affecting your travels,” she said, adding, “And we hope Democrats will soon see the importance of reopening government.”
The partial government shutdown initiated on October 1 after most Senate Democrats declined to vote on a continuing resolution necessary to keep federal operations funded until November 21.
This video has been banned in major U.S. airports—ranging from Las Vegas and Charlotte to Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, and Seattle—due to its political tone, which breaches policies against “political” or “inappropriate” content.
Additionally, three other New York airports—Niagara Falls International, Buffalo Niagara International, and Westchester County—also refrained from airing the clip.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the DHS, remarked, “It’s unfortunate that political maneuvering has placed our workers in this situation,” as noted in a recent statement.
“Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening government,” she reiterated.
The DHS did not respond right away to requests for comments.
