Wayne County Airport Authority sign informing travelers it is not associated with a video being played by the Transportation Security Administration at Detroit Metro Airport. Oct. 17, 2025 | Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance
Officials from the Wayne County Airport Authority have asked Transportation Security Administration officials to stop playing a video that blames Congressional Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has contributed to thousands of flight delays across the country.
The video in question features Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Matt Morawski, director of communications and external affairs for the Wayne County Airport Authority, confirmed on Tuesday that the TSA was playing the video on monitors in the space it leases at Detroit Metro Airport.
On Wednesday, the airport authority issued a statement noting that it had asked the TSA to stop playing the video. The airport authority reiterated that it does not control the checkpoint monitors within TSA-leased airport space, and that the administration did not request permission to play the message.
The airport is also displaying signs at the entrances of TSA checkpoints that read: “The views expressed in this TSA controlled video do not represent the views of the Wayne County Airport Authority. The Wayne county airport authority does not engage in partisan politics. Thank You.”
Update: In addition to our statement, these signs are being placed at the entrances to the TSA checkpoints at DTW. pic.twitter.com/TznXist944
— DTW Airport (@DTWeetin) October 15, 2025
In the video, Noem says that Democrats in government have refused to fund the federal government, noting that most TSA employees are working without pay.
“We will continue to do all that we can to avoid delays that will impact your travel,” Noem said. “And our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”
When asked about the Wayne County Airport Authority’s request via email, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – which oversees the TSA – responded with a statement from Assistant Secretary For Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin.
FIRST ON FOX: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem blasted Democrats for the government shutdown affecting TSA workers in a video that will play at every public airport in America. pic.twitter.com/LdhRmF6wlT
— Preston Mizell (@MizellPreston) October 9, 2025
“It is TSA’s top priority to ensure that travelers have the most safe, pleasant and efficient airport experience possible,” McLaughlin said. “However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, most of our TSA employees are working without pay. While this creates challenges for our people, our security operations remain largely unimpacted at this time.”
McLaughlin added: “It’s unfortunate our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship. Our hope is that Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”
On Monday, spokespeople for Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority and Flint Bishop International Airport confirmed they were not playing the video.
On Thursday, Heidi Groenboom, communications and events associate for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, also said that the digital screens owned by the airport authority are designated for static content offering travel information and helping travelers find their way.
Kasey Posa, director of marketing and public relations for Flint Bishop International airport, said the airport is not showcasing the video on any monitors owned or operated by the Bishop International Airport Authority.
However, Posa also said that the TSA is an independent federal agency that manages security in leased space within airports. For this reason, the TSA has its own internal communications system and has the discretion to air federally distributed content independent of the Airport Authority.
“Because the message in the referenced video violates [Bishop International Airport Authority’s] Airport Rules and Regulations, we have requested that TSA stop playing the video,” Posa said.
Since the shutdown began, the Trump Administration has taken to blasting Democrats through various official channels, displaying messages on several federal agencies’ websites blaming Democrats for the shutdown
However, Democrats have pushed back, noting that Republicans, as the party in control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, the government shutdown is the GOP’s crisis to own.
The Hatch Act bars federal employees from engaging in partisan political activities while on duty, and the federal government is now facing several legal challenges due to its shutdown messaging.
Consumer advocacy watchdog Public Citizen filed legal challenges against nine government agencies, while the Center for Biological Diversity filed complaints against the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Democracy Defenders Fund, a nonpartisan organization focused on protecting democracy and defending the rule of law, filed two letters with the Government Accountability Office calling for an investigation into whether the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Treasury, Agriculture, Justice, State, and Health and Human Services violated the Anti-Deficiency Act, as well as other bans against using federal funds for political propaganda.
This story was originally produced by Michigan Advance, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes South Dakota Searchlight, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.