WHITE PLAINS, NY (October 11, 2025) — Westchester County officials have refused to air a new public service announcement from U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for a federal government shutdown affecting Transportation Security Administration operations.
The 37-second video, looping at airport checkpoints nationwide, features Noem stating, “Hi, I’m Kristi Noem, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. 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. However, Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government. And because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and 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, and our hope is that Democrats will reopen the government.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins announced the decision after reviewing a request from the Department of Homeland Security to replace a REAL ID video with Noem’s message at Westchester County Airport.
“Westchester County has reviewed the request from the Department of Homeland Security to replace the REAL ID video with a Public Service Announcement (PSA) that was released by United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and our message is clear: it is inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials,” Jenkins said. “The PSA politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA Operations, and the County finds the tone to be unnecessarily alarmist – particularly as it relates to operations at Westchester County Airport. This video will not be displayed at Westchester County Airport.”
Jenkins emphasized the need for nonpartisan communication during uncertain times. “At a time when we should be focused on ensuring stability, collaboration and preparedness, this type of messaging only distracts from the real issues, and undermines public trust,” he said. “As County Executive, I believe our residents deserve clear, honest and nonpartisan communication—especially when it comes to national security, government shutdown impacts, and public safety.”
The county plans to maintain smooth operations at the airport despite the shutdown. “In Westchester County, we’re committed to keeping our Airport running efficiently and safely, regardless of political games in Washington,” Jenkins added. “The County will continue to coordinate with federal agencies to ensure that Airport operations remain secure and uninterrupted for our travelers throughout any federal government shutdown.”
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.