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A number of major international air travel hubs across the United States, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have decided to prevent a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the continuing government closure from playing at their security checkpoints.

Legal Issues Raised by Airport Officials

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have refused to display the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could violate federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars government workers from participating in political campaigning.

“Congressional Democrats decline to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA staff are unpaid,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority noted that it “did not consent to airing the PSA in its current form, as we consider the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political aims.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars government staff from promoting or opposing any political party and that consenting to play this video would violate Oregon law.

Las Vegas Position

The Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, noting in a release that “the video's message included political messaging that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational nature of the public service announcements usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that forbids political activities by federal employees to ensure that public services remain non-partisan.

Further Airport Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “declined to post the PSA” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, citing “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also added that the TSA does not own any screens at its security areas and that its few display monitors are designated for directions, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

Westchester County, in a public comment, called the PSA “inappropriate, improper, and inconsistent with the standards we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county leader stated, adding that the tone was “overly alarming” and “erodes public trust.”

DHS Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, an agency representative, echoed the Secretary's wording to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will soon recognize the importance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was working to find ways to assist government workers unpaid during the shutdown.