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A number of key global airports across the United States, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have chosen to prevent a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing government closure from being shown at their screening locations.

Regulatory Concerns Cited by Aviation Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have refused to broadcast the video content at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could violate federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars government workers from engaging in partisan actions.

“Democratic legislators refuse to support funding for the federal government, and because of this, many of our activities are affected, and most of our TSA employees are unpaid,” Noem stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Response

The Port of Portland clarified that it “did not consent to airing the PSA in its current form, as we maintain the federal law clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political purposes.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars government staff from promoting or opposing any political party and that consenting to play this video would break Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Position

The Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the security announcement on similar grounds, saying in a release that “the video's message included political messaging that did not align with the neutral, informational nature of the PSAs usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Explaining the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that bans partisan actions by government employees to guarantee that government programs remain non-partisan.

Additional Authority Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “refused to display the video” to stay “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, also refused, pointing to “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Criticism

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

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

DHS Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will soon recognize the significance of reopening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the government shutdown” and was striving to find ways to assist government workers working without pay during the closure.