Missoula Joins List of Airports Not Playing DHS Message

The Department of Homeland Security is trying to get a message out to travelers about the government shutdown. But a lot of airports around the country are quietly saying, “Yeah… no thanks.”

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently released a video blaming Democrats for the shutdown and pointing to the impact on TSA employees. Many of whom are working without pay. The plan was to have the video played at airports nationwide. But so far, it’s not getting much airtime.

Why Airports Are Saying No

Airports in cities like Denver, Atlanta, and Seattle have already said they won’t play the video. Their reasoning? Protocols. Many have policies that keep their public screens from being used for anything that could be interpreted as partisan messaging.

Missoula International Airport is also on that list. A spokesperson told KPAX that their screens are already reserved for advertising, not political messaging. They also stressed that the decision is non-partisan.

A Messy Mix of Politics and Public Spaces

Airport advertising, politics, and TSA workers don’t often come together in one story, but here we are. DHS has stood behind the video, saying it is a vital message about how the shutdown was affecting workers and those traveling. Airports are pushing back, citing their procedures.

It’s a message-versus-policy battle, and Missoula, Bozeman and Billings airports are collateral damage. Because TSA agents are classified as essential employees, they’re still expected to show up for work even if their paychecks are delayed.

Airports like Missoula’s aren’t seeking to make a political point. They’re attempting to keep their messaging neutral, ad space sold, and security lines moving. In a shutdown in which just about every headline seems to carry some political heat, even airport televisions can be involved in the debate.