BNA one of many airports not airing Kristi Noem’s TSA video
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Nashville International Airport (BNA) is one of many airports not airing Kristi Noem’s video addressing travelers at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints.
Noem, who was appointed by President Donald Trump’s administration as the eighth United States Secretary of Homeland Security, oversees TSA and recently made a “public service announcement” video.
In the video, she says Democrats are the reason for the federal government’s current shutdown.
“It is TSA’s top priority to make sure that you have the most pleasant and efficient airport experience as possible while we keep you safe,” Noem said in the video.
Noem said Democrats “refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted.”
“Most of our 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.”
Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem's video blames Democrats for government shutdown
Noem made the video on Thursday, Oct. 9 to be displayed in all airports. However, many airports nationwide said they are refusing to play the video, according to NBC News.
Airports in New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Seattle, and more say the video’s political content goes against their policies or regulations, which prohibit political messaging in their facilities.
However, not all airports refusing to play the video are based on political views, according to the Texas Tribune, some airports in Texas said their airport’s checkpoints can’t play videos because they don’t have video monitors.
WSMV4 reached out to BNA to see if they will air the video. BNA didn’t say they wouldn’t air it.
According to a spokesperson from BNA, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority hasn’t received a request from the Department of Homeland Security or the TSA to play any videos.
WSMV reached out for clarification to see if they would play the video if it was requested.
Why did the government shut down?
White House
On Oct. 1, the government was thrown into a shutdown with no ending in sight as Democrats demanded to “salvage health care subsidies” that the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress dismissed as something to possibly discuss later, according to the Associated Press.
AP reported that Democrats wanted to reverse Medicaid cuts in Trump’s package of tax breaks and spending restrictions from the summer and wanted to extend tax credits that make health insurance premiums more affordable.
As a result of the shutdown, 750,000 federal workers are going to be furloughed, and some will even be fired, according to Vice President JD Vance.
How the government shutdown is affecting airport employees
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Air traffic controllers and TSA employees are part of the federal employees across the country who are working without pay during the government shutdown, leading to widespread flight delays and cancellations.
Union leaders said the situation could worsen. Many controllers are calling out sick in major hubs, including Nashville, creating staffing shortages that force remaining workers to manage multiple sectors and extended airspace.
“What you’re going to see is the stress, pressure, and fatigue that air traffic controllers have to contend with,” said a union representative. “Now that it’s being focused on, people see what air traffic controllers deal with day in and day out of having to combine sectors, work other people’s airspace because of the shortage of air traffic controllers in the system.”
Most controllers are already working six-day weeks, and the added stress of working without pay is taking its toll on an industry already plagued by staffing shortages.
