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Several key global airports across the US, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have chosen to prevent a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democratic lawmakers for the continuing government closure from playing at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Concerns Raised by Aviation Officials

Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester County have declined to display the footage at screening areas, stating that the political statements could breach federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act, which forbids federal employees from participating in partisan actions.

“Democratic legislators decline to finance the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our operations are disrupted, and most of our TSA staff are unpaid,” the Secretary remarked in the video.

Portland Response

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

Harry Reid International Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also refused to display the security announcement on similar grounds, noting in a statement that “the video's message included political messaging that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational nature of the PSAs typically shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a federal law that bans political activities by government employees to ensure that public services stay unbiased.

Additional Authority Rejections

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “declined to post the PSA” to stay “consistent with airport policy,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, also refused, citing “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any monitors at its checkpoints and that its few display monitors are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Criticism

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

“The public service announcement politicizes the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines customer confidence.”

DHS Reply

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democrats will soon recognize the significance of opening the government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to resolve the federal closure” and was working to identify ways to support government workers working without pay during the closure.