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Several major international air travel hubs across the America, among them Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have chosen to prevent a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democratic lawmakers for the current government closure from airing at their security checkpoints.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have declined to show the video content at screening areas, stating that the political statements could contravene state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids government workers from participating in partisan political activity.

“Congressional Democrats decline to finance the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our functions are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are not receiving wages,” the Secretary stated in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland clarified that it “did not consent to displaying the PSA in its present version, as we consider the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political aims.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits public employees from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that consenting to play this video would break state law.

Harry Reid International Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to show the security announcement on comparable reasons, saying in a release that “its content contained partisan statements that was inconsistent with the neutral, informational purpose of the public service announcements usually shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that forbids partisan actions by government employees to guarantee that public services stay non-partisan.

Additional Authority Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport explained that it “declined to display the PSA” to stay “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly refused, citing “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Objection

Westchester County, in a public comment, called the video “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the message was “overly alarming” and “erodes public trust.”

Homeland Security Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the importance of reopening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution

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