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San Antonio Airport Declines to Air TSA Shutdown Video
Airport cites political nature of video blaming Democrats for security delays.
Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:39pm
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San Antonio International Airport has declined to play a video released by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that warns of longer-than-average wait times at security checkpoints and blames it on Congressional Democrats. Several other airports, including LaGuardia and JFK in New York, Newark, Seattle-Tacoma, and Colorado Springs, have also refused to air the video due to its political nature.
Why it matters
The video's political messaging has sparked debate over who is to blame for the security delays caused by the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. The shutdown has led to higher rates of TSA agents quitting or calling in sick, forcing security checkpoint delays across the country.
The details
The 30-second TSA video shows images of long security checkpoint lines and text blaming the delays on the "Democrat shutdown of TSA and the Department of Homeland Security." The video was unveiled on the first payday that TSA agents didn't receive full paychecks because of the DHS shutdown, which began on February 14. Several airports have refused to play the video, citing concerns that it would violate the Hatch Act, a law that bars federal workers from engaging in some forms of political activity.
- The DHS shutdown began on February 14, 2026.
- The TSA video was released on Friday, March 15, 2026.
The players
San Antonio International Airport
The airport that has declined to play the TSA video.
U.S. Transportation and Security Administration (TSA)
The federal agency that released the video warning of longer-than-average wait times at security checkpoints and blaming it on Congressional Democrats.
Democratic lawmakers
Lawmakers who are refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security until Republicans agree to restrictions on federal immigration operations.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn
A senator who planned to bash Democrats for the shutdown at a press conference in Austin.
Democratic Rep. Greg Casar
A representative who crashed Cornyn's press conference, saying he and others have proposed legislation to fund the TSA alone but Republicans have refused to accept the compromise.
What they’re saying
“Democrats have taken 'the wrong hostage' by refusing to pass funding that would reopen the Department of Homeland Security and get paychecks flowing back to TSA agents.”
— Sen. John Cornyn (expressnews.com)
“I and others have proposed legislation to fund the TSA alone but Republicans have refused to accept the compromise because they want funding to continue flowing to ICE.”
— Rep. Greg Casar (expressnews.com)
What’s next
The debate over who is to blame for the long security lines during the shutdown is expected to continue, with both Democrats and Republicans making their case to the public.
The takeaway
The refusal of several airports, including San Antonio International, to air the TSA's politically-charged video highlights the ongoing partisan divide over the causes and solutions for the security delays caused by the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
