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A number of major global airports across the US, among them Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have decided to block a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing federal government shutdown from playing at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Raised by Aviation Officials

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have refused to broadcast the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits government workers from engaging in partisan actions.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to support funding for the federal government, and as a result, many of our functions are affected, and most of our TSA staff are not receiving wages,” Noem remarked in the video.

Portland Response

The Portland airport authority clarified that it “did not consent to playing the video in its current form, as we maintain the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon prohibits public employees from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that agreeing to play this video would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the security announcement on similar grounds, stating in a release that “its content contained partisan statements that did not align with the impartial, educational nature of the PSAs usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a federal law that prohibits partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that government programs remain impartial.

Additional Airport Rejections

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “declined to display the PSA” to stay “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte airport said that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the referenced video.” The airport also added that the TSA does not own any monitors at its checkpoints and that its limited digital screens are reserved for directions, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Objection

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

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive said, noting that the message was “overly alarming” and “undermines public trust.”

Homeland Security Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, an agency representative, repeated the Secretary's language to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will shortly realize the importance of opening the government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Solution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was working to find methods to assist federal employees unpaid during the closure.