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A number of prominent international airports across the United States, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have decided to block a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the current federal government shutdown from airing at their screening locations.

Regulatory Issues Raised by Airport Authorities

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have refused to show the footage at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate state and federal law, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Democrats in Congress decline to support funding for the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our functions are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are working without pay,” the Secretary stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland clarified that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its present version, as we maintain the Hatch Act explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for political purposes.” It added that Oregon law prohibits government staff from supporting or criticizing any political party and that consenting to broadcast this video would violate state law.

Las Vegas Statement

The Harry Reid International Airport also refused to show the security announcement on similar grounds, stating in a statement that “the video's message included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational nature of the public service announcements typically displayed at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a federal law that prohibits political activities by government employees to guarantee that government programs remain non-partisan.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport airport explained that it “refused to display the video” to remain “consistent with airport policy,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly declined, citing “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte airport said that state local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not permit the video in question.” The authority also added that the TSA does not own any screens at its checkpoints and that its limited digital screens are designated for directions, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

The county, in a public comment, described the PSA “unacceptable, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the standards we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the impacts of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive stated, adding that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes customer confidence.”

DHS Response

A Department of Homeland Security official, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will soon realize the significance of opening the government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the federal closure” and was working to identify methods to support federal employees working without pay during the shutdown.