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A number of key global air travel hubs across the America, among them Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have chosen to restrict a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the continuing federal government shutdown from being shown at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have refused to broadcast the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the political statements could breach state and federal law, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to support funding for the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our functions are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are not receiving wages,” Noem said in the announcement.

Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority explained that it “would not agree to displaying the PSA in its present version, as we believe the federal law clearly prohibits use of public assets for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars public employees from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that consenting to play this video would break 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 release that “the video's message included political messaging that did not align with the impartial, educational 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 federal law that prohibits political activities by federal employees to guarantee that public services remain impartial.

Additional Authority Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “declined to post the video” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, citing “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that North Carolina municipal law and the airport's rules for digital content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also noted that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its checkpoints and that its limited display monitors are designated for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Objection

The county, in a statement, described the PSA “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The PSA makes political the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive stated, adding that the message was “overly alarming” and “erodes customer confidence.”

DHS Reply

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s language to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will shortly recognize the significance of opening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to find ways to assist federal employees unpaid during the shutdown.