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Several prominent international air travel hubs across the US, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have opted to block a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the current federal government shutdown from playing at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Issues Cited by Aviation Authorities

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

“Democratic legislators refuse to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are not receiving wages,” the Secretary said in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland explained that it “did not consent to airing the video in its current form, as we believe the federal law clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” It added that Oregon law prohibits public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this content would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Position

The Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, saying in a statement that “the video's message included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational nature of the PSAs typically displayed at security checkpoints” and also referenced the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a federal law that bans partisan actions by government employees to ensure that public services stay non-partisan.

Additional Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport stated that it “declined to post the video” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, pointing to “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not permit the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its checkpoints and that its few display monitors are reserved for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Criticism

Westchester County, in a public comment, called the PSA “inappropriate, improper, and out of line with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the impacts of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county leader said, 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 language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democrats will shortly realize the significance of opening the government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Solution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the government shutdown” and was striving to find ways to assist federal employees unpaid during the shutdown.