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Several prominent international air travel hubs across the US, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have chosen to prevent a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the current federal government shutdown from airing at their screening locations.

Legal Issues Cited by Airport Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have refused to display the footage at screening areas, stating that the political statements could contravene federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act, which forbids federal employees from engaging in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to finance the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our functions are impacted, and most of our TSA workers are unpaid,” the Secretary remarked in the video.

Portland Response

The Port of Portland clarified that it “did not consent to playing the video in its current form, as we consider the federal law clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars public employees from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that agreeing to play this content would break Oregon law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to show the security announcement on similar grounds, stating in a release that “its content included partisan statements that did not align with the impartial, informational purpose of the public service announcements usually shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

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

Further Airport Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport explained that it “declined to display the PSA” to remain “consistent with airport guidelines,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, pointing to “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte airport said that state local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not allow the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Objection

Westchester County, in a statement, described the PSA “unacceptable, improper, and out of line with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The PSA makes political the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the significance of opening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Resolution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was working to identify ways to support federal employees unpaid during the shutdown.