Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has dropped a video blaming Democrats for the federal government shutdown, but Portland International Airport (PDX) is refusing to play it.
KOIN reported that a video message from Secretary Noem, meant for airports nationwide, has hit a wall of resistance at PDX over concerns of political bias and legal violations.
Let’s rewind to the start: the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), under Secretary Noem’s oversight, pushed out a request to display this video at airports across the country.
Travelers and TSA employees—folks already stressed by long lines and pat-downs—were the intended audience. It’s a bold move to get a message out where people can’t escape it.
In the video, Noem doesn’t mince words about who she thinks is at fault for the shutdown mess. “It is TSA’s top priority to make sure that you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience possible while we keep you safe,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. But here’s the rub—pleasant experiences are hard to come by when politics hijacks the terminal screens.
“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,” Noem continued.
Now, that’s a serious accusation, and while it’s true TSA workers are caught in the crossfire, pinning it solely on one party feels like a half-story when budget battles are rarely so black-and-white. Still, it’s a gut punch to see frontline workers unpaid while Congress plays chicken.
But not every airport is rolling out the red carpet for this message, and PDX is leading the resistance. The Port of Portland, which oversees the airport, got the TSA’s request and promptly said, “No thanks.” It’s a decision that’s raised eyebrows, especially for those of us who value getting both sides of a story.
On Friday, the Port of Portland confirmed to KOIN 6 News that they’re not airing the video. Their reasoning? They’re worried about stepping on legal landmines.
“We believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes and messaging,” said a spokesperson for the Port of Portland. Well, that’s a fair point—public spaces shouldn’t be soapboxes for partisan agendas, no matter who’s preaching. But one has to wonder if this is truly about neutrality or just dodging a hot potato.
“Additionally, Oregon law states no public employee can promote or oppose any political committee, party, or affiliation. We believe consenting to playing this video on Port assets would violate Oregon law,” the spokesperson added.
It’s a tightrope walk, but some might argue this sounds like overcaution in an era where every decision gets politicized anyway.
Meanwhile, the TSA itself has gone radio silent on the matter. Despite outreach from KOIN 6 News, no response was received by their deadline. If they do chime in later, updates will follow, but for now, the silence speaks volumes.
Portland isn’t the only place where shutdown blame is making waves. The U.S. Forest Service, as KOIN 6 previously reported, has also posted online messages pointing fingers at Democrats for the shutdown’s ripple effects. It’s a pattern—federal agencies airing grievances in public forums, which feels less like governance and more like a PR campaign.
Back to PDX, the decision not to air Noem’s video isn’t just a local quirk—it’s a snapshot of a bigger clash. On one hand, there’s a push to inform the public about why TSA agents are working without paychecks; on the other, there’s a fear of turning public spaces into political battlegrounds.
For conservatives like many of us, Noem’s message might resonate as a needed wake-up call about government dysfunction. But even if you nod along, it’s hard to ignore that airports aren’t the place for partisan finger-pointing. Travelers just want to get through security, not pick a side.
The shutdown’s real victims are the TSA employees Noem mentioned—folks showing up to keep us safe without a dime in their pocket for their trouble. If her video aimed to highlight their sacrifice, that’s noble, but wrapping it in a blame game risks drowning out the human cost with political noise.