With the government shutdown entering another week and no sign of resolution, Michigan Congressman Shri Thanedar is raising new concerns — not about budget negotiations, but about political propaganda playing at airports across the United States.
Thanedar, the Ranking Member of the Oversight Subcommittee for Homeland Security, has called for a full investigation into what he describes as “Trump propaganda” being shown at major airports, including Detroit Metro (DTW), during the ongoing federal shutdown.
The letter, co-signed by House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), accuses Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of violating the Antideficiency Act — a federal law prohibiting agencies from using government resources for nonessential activities during a lapse in appropriations.
According to lawmakers, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted and distributed a series of videos featuring Noem blaming Democrats for the shutdown, directing airports across the country to play them on in-terminal screens.
Several airports have reportedly refused to air the videos, citing their political nature. But travelers across multiple states — including Michigan, Georgia, Florida, and Texas — have shared clips showing the videos still playing on airport displays as furloughs and delays continue to ripple through the federal workforce.
The letter urges the GAO to investigate whether Noem’s actions also violate the Hatch Act, which bars federal officials from engaging in partisan activity using taxpayer-funded resources.
A Shutdown Without an End — and a Growing Divide
The controversy adds yet another layer to a shutdown that has already shuttered major federal services, delayed pay for thousands of workers, and disrupted everything from housing benefits to air safety inspections.
Critics argue the administration’s decision to use airport systems for political messaging blurs the line between governance and propaganda — especially as millions of Americans rely on those same airports to travel for work and family emergencies.
The GAO has yet to announce whether it will open a formal investigation, but calls for accountability are growing louder as the shutdown drags into its third week.
For now, the message from Thanedar and fellow lawmakers is clear:
The government may have stopped working — but propaganda hasn’t.
