What Happened at Harry Reid Airport
Picture this: You’re rushing through the airport to catch your flight. Your bags are waiting in a long line to be checked. But instead of extra TSA agents helping move things along, you see a group of them singing in a choir.
This exact scene happened on Friday, May 24, 2025, at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. A group of TSA agents performed choir songs right in front of a busy security line with stacks of carry-on bags waiting to be checked, while only one agent worked each screening lane.
Videos of the event went viral on social media.
Rumor has it the singing TSA agents at Harry Reid Airport are pissing off the tourists pic.twitter.com/8Z6cdxnao9
— Las Vegas Locally (@LasVegasLocally) June 18, 2025
Travelers were not happy. One passenger commented:
“Imagine being late to your flight and TSA is over there singing like it’s the last day on the Titanic”.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This story shows everything wrong with big government agencies. The TSA has grown into a massive bureaucracy since 9/11. They now employ over 60,000 people and cost taxpayers billions each year.
When government workers prioritize entertainment over their basic job duties, it tells us something important. It shows how disconnected federal agencies have become from the people they’re supposed to serve.
Harry Reid Airport handled 58.4 million passengers in 2024, making it one of America’s busiest airports. Travelers pay fees and taxes that fund the TSA. They expect efficient service, not a concert.
The timing makes it worse. This happened on Friday, May 24, 2025, during Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest travel periods of the year. New Real ID requirements were also creating longer lines than normal. When passengers needed help most, TSA agents were performing instead of working.
What TSA Officials Say
TSA tries to defend these activities as customer service. TSA’s customer service branch manager Niki French said improving passenger interactions is a “delicate balancing act” and that “A lot of times TSA can, unfortunately, be seen as standing between you and your vacation”.
But this misses the point entirely. Travelers don’t want to be entertained by government workers. They want fast, professional service so they can get to their gates on time.
Some defenders claimed the singers might have been on break or not scheduled for screening duties. Even if true, the optics are terrible. When lines are backed up and passengers are stressed, having staff sing nearby shows poor judgment.
A Pattern of Performance Over Service
This wasn’t the first time Harry Reid Airport has prioritized entertainment over efficiency. The airport regularly hosts performances during busy travel periods, including annual Christmas tree lighting ceremonies featuring school choirs during the holiday travel season.
In December 2023, TSA choir members again serenaded travelers in Terminal 1. The airport seems to view these performances as customer service improvements, but travelers consistently show they prefer faster lines over forced entertainment.
The @TSA choir at LAS serenaded travelers in Terminal 1 today with a number of cheery holiday tunes.
✨❄️ pic.twitter.com/PAFG6kQlZH— Harry Reid International Airport (@LASairport) December 12, 2023
The Bigger Picture
This incident represents a larger problem with federal agencies. When organizations get too big and comfortable, they lose focus on their core mission. The TSA’s job is security screening, not entertainment.
Private companies would never allow this behavior. If airline employees sang while customers waited in long lines, they’d face immediate consequences. But government workers often face little accountability for poor performance.
The TSA has faced criticism for years about long wait times, inconsistent procedures, and high costs. Adding choir performances to busy security checkpoints only makes these problems worse.
Recent Changes Under New Leadership
Interestingly, this choir incident happened just months before major changes at TSA. In March 2025, the Department of Homeland Security ended TSA agents’ ability to collectively bargain, meaning their union would no longer be recognized.
The Trump administration said this change would remove “bureaucratic hurdles that will strengthen workforce agility (and) enhance productivity and resiliency”. Time will tell if these reforms improve TSA performance.
What Conservatives Can Do
First, continue demanding accountability from federal agencies. When government workers put on shows instead of doing their jobs, speak up. Contact your representatives and share your travel experiences.
Second, support efforts to reform or privatize airport security. Many countries use private companies for airport screening with better results and lower costs. America should consider similar changes.
Third, push for smaller government overall. The TSA is just one example of how federal agencies grow beyond their original purpose. Every new government program starts small but tends to expand over time.
Looking Forward
This TSA choir story might seem small, but it reveals big problems. Government agencies that forget their purpose waste taxpayer money and frustrate citizens.
Real reform means getting back to basics. Security screening should be fast, professional, and focused on safety. Save the singing for after work hours.
When government workers prioritize performance art over public service, it’s time for change. Taxpayers deserve better from the agencies they fund.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
