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A number of major international airports across the United States, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have decided to prevent a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the current federal government shutdown from playing at their screening locations.

Regulatory Concerns Raised by Aviation Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to show the video content at screening areas, stating that the political statements could violate federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits federal employees from participating in partisan actions.

“Democratic legislators decline to support funding for the federal government, and because of this, many of our functions are impacted, and most of our TSA staff are not receiving wages,” the Secretary stated in the video.

Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland explained that it “would not agree to airing the PSA in its present version, as we consider the Hatch Act explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits public employees from supporting or criticizing any political party and that consenting to broadcast this video would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to show the security announcement on similar grounds, saying in a statement that “its content included partisan statements that did not align with the impartial, informational nature of the PSAs typically shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act Regulations

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

Further Authority Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “declined to display the PSA” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, citing “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte airport said that state local regulations and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the TSA does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its few digital screens are designated for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

The county, in a public comment, called the video “inappropriate, unacceptable, and out of line with the values we expect from our federal leaders.”

“The PSA makes political the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA operations,” the county executive stated, noting that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines public trust.”

DHS Reply

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's wording to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will soon realize the importance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Resolution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to identify methods to support federal employees unpaid during the closure.