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Several prominent global air travel hubs across the United States, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have chosen to prevent a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown from playing at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Authorities

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to display the footage at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to finance the federal government, and because of this, many of our functions are disrupted, and most of our TSA staff are unpaid,” Noem remarked in the announcement.

Portland Response

The Portland airport authority explained that it “did not consent to playing the PSA in its current form, as we believe the federal law clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political purposes.” It added that Oregon law prohibits public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this video would break state law.

Harry Reid International Position

The Harry Reid International Airport also declined to show the TSA video on comparable reasons, stating in a release that “the video's message contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, educational nature of the public service announcements typically displayed at security checkpoints” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that forbids political activities by government employees to guarantee that government programs remain non-partisan.

Additional Authority Responses

• Phoenix airport airport explained that it “declined to post the video” to stay “in line with airport guidelines,” which prohibits political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not permit the video in question.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its security areas and that its few digital screens are designated for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Objection

The county, in a statement, called the video “inappropriate, improper, and out of line with the standards we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the impacts of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive stated, noting that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines customer confidence.”

DHS Reply

A DHS official, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s language to blame “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the significance of opening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the federal closure” and was working to find ways to assist federal employees unpaid during the closure.