Oct 15, 2025
As the U.S. government shutdown stretches into its third week, Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) has officially joined a growing list of U.S. airports refusing to play a prerecorded message from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The short video, distributed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for use at airport security checkpoints, features Noem blaming Democratic members of Congress for the ongoing federal shutdown that began on October 1.
“Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government,” Noem says in the 30-second message. “Because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are working without pay.”
Why Salt Lake City Said “No”
The request to air the video was made last Thursday. However, after consulting with city attorneys, airport officials determined that playing it would violate Utah state law, which bans municipal employees from using city-owned equipment for political activity.
“The monitors we would use to show the video are owned and operated by the city,” explained Nancy Volmer, spokeswoman for Salt Lake City International Airport. “So we are prohibited from broadcasting any political messages. This is not a partisan issue — it’s about compliance with the law.”
Salt Lake City’s decision was made independently, without consulting other airports, Volmer added.
Political Messaging or Public Information?
The shutdown video has drawn criticism nationwide for what many describe as overt political messaging. While DHS framed it as an informational update about the impact of the shutdown on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations, others argue it crosses a legal line.
Under the Hatch Act of 1939, federal employees and agencies are prohibited from using government resources for partisan political activity.
That same concern has led several major airports—including Seattle-Tacoma International, Harry Reid International in Las Vegas, Charlotte Douglas International, and the Port of Portland—to also reject the video.
A Port of Portland spokesperson told Newsweek that playing the video “would clearly violate the Hatch Act, which prohibits use of public property for political purposes.”
The Ongoing Shutdown: Political Blame on Both Sides
The shutdown began after Congress failed to approve a new federal appropriations bill before the previous funding expired in late September.
- Democrats are pushing to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits expiring this year.
- Republicans, who control Congress, argue the issue should be handled separately from the main budget.
This standoff has caused major disruptions in federal operations — from employee pay delays to limited public services — and has left many TSA employees working without pay.
Recent polls show Americans are divided on who’s to blame:
- A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 67% blame Republicans and 63% blame Democrats.
- A Harvard/Harris poll showed a near-even split — 53% blaming Republicans and 47% blaming Democrats.
Salt Lake City Stays Neutral
While other airports cited federal law, Salt Lake City’s refusal is grounded in Utah’s state statute, which mirrors the Hatch Act’s intent at the municipal level.
“We’re just following the law,” Volmer reiterated. “We have no intention of taking sides in a political dispute. Our decision is based entirely on state regulations.”
The airport has not indicated whether DHS or state leaders have responded to the decision. For now, travelers passing through Salt Lake City’s TSA checkpoints will not see the controversial video — a choice that underscores a broader debate over how political messaging is handled in public spaces funded by taxpayers.
