MESSAGE MUTED: Some major airports across the U.S. are refusing to play a video featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the government shutdown that has prompted significant flight delays….⤵️

A brewing political storm is taking flight—literally. Several major airports across the United States are reportedly refusing to play a Department of Homeland Security video featuring Secretary Kristi Noem, after the message blamed Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown that has disrupted federal operations and caused widespread flight delays nationwide.

The short public message—intended for display on airport monitors—was produced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a “travel advisory update” amid the shutdown. But sources say it quickly turned political, with Noem accusing “Democrat obstruction in Congress” of “crippling the system that keeps America moving safely.”

Airport authorities in cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York have since declined to broadcast the video, citing concerns over partisan messaging in federally mandated spaces. One airport spokesperson told reporters, “We’re not here to host political statements. Travelers deserve information, not blame games.”

Meanwhile, flight delays continue to mount as TSA staffing shortages and air traffic control slowdowns intensify under the shutdown.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Secretary Noem defended her message, saying, “Americans have a right to know who’s responsible for this chaos. Transparency isn’t partisan—it’s patriotic.”

Democratic leaders, however, slammed the move, calling it an “abuse of government resources for political propaganda.”

As tensions rise, travelers are left caught in the middle—stuck in long lines, delayed flights, and an escalating political feud that’s now playing out in airport terminals across America.