Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, along with airports in cities including Atlanta, Chicago, and Madison, has declined to broadcast a video message from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. According to local news reports, the message attributes the federal government shutdown and unpaid work by TSA employees to a lack of funding from congressional Democrats. Officials at Mitchell cited a Milwaukee County ordinance that prohibits political messaging within county facilities. The decision comes amid concerns about political bias and potential violations of the Hatch Act, which restricts partisan activity in federal programs.
The ongoing government shutdown, which has led to flight delays and other operational challenges, is now part of a wider debate over political responsibility. Some travelers have expressed concern over political messaging in public spaces. “I don’t think there should be a political statement for an airport to be broadcasting and showing,” passenger Lori Jurick told WISN 12 News. The broader dispute includes disagreements over health care funding, with Democrats calling for its inclusion in any agreement to end the shutdown. Republicans have maintained that government funding should take priority.
Adding to the concerns, Public Citizen, a watchdog group, has filed twelve complaints since the shutdown began about actions they think may break federal law. The DHS video not shown at Milwaukee Mitchell is part of a larger pattern where federal agencies blame Democrats for the shutdown on various government websites. Dr. Craig Holman, a government affairs lobbyist with Public Citizen, told CBS 58 that he thinks the DHS video is a clear example of using "fear that's already among many flyers, and it does it for a sheer partisan gain."
