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Airports

DHS-Produced Video Blaming Democrats for Government Shutdown Likely to Appear at Alaska Airports

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the ongoing federal government shutdown shows no signs of resolution, the US Department of Homeland Security is expected to publish a political advertisement at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints in Alaska's major airports. The ad, promoted by the White House and featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, blames Democrats for the shutdown. Alaska's state department of transportation and public facilities owns and operates over 230 airports, but TSA has only requested permission to air the ad at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and Fairbanks International Airport.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US Department of Homeland Security is producing a political advertisement blaming Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown.
  • The ad, featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is expected to appear at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints in Alaska's major airports.
  • Alaska's state department of transportation and public facilities owns and operates over 230 airports, but TSA has only requested permission to air the ad at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and Fairbanks International Airport.
  • Airport officials in other states, including Noem's home state of South Dakota, have declined to allow the video, citing longstanding policies against airing political content.
  • Alaska's Executive Branch Ethics Act prohibits the use of state funds, facilities, equipment for partisan political purposes, but transportation officials do not believe the law applies in this case.
  • Senate Republicans could unilaterally pass budget language funding the government but would require them to eliminate the filibuster, a rule that requires 60 votes instead of 50 for much of the US Senate's business.
  • Senate Democrats have offered to vote for a shutdown-ending budget deal if Senate Republicans agree to extend subsidies for health care coverage, but Senate Republicans have declined to do so.

Statistics:

  • Over 230 airports are owned and operated by Alaska's state department of transportation and public facilities. (https://dot.alaska.gov/stwddes/gis/dataproducts/Public_Airports.pdf)
  • Only a handful of Alaska's airports are not owned and operated by the state.
  • 30 seconds is the length of the video produced by the US Department of Homeland Security.

Sources:

  • https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1976668787467514316
  • https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/10/15/airports-in-multiple-states-including-sd-not-airing-noems-video-blaming-democrats-for-shutdown/
  • https://dot.alaska.gov/stwddes/gis/dataproducts/Public_Airports.pdf
  • https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26187699-po-terms-89-70t01023t7668n026-0-us-lh-7-28-2023/
  • https://law.alaska.gov/doclibrary/ethics/EthicsAct.html

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