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Several key global airports across the US, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have decided to prevent a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown from being shown at their checkpoint areas.

Regulatory Issues Cited by Aviation Authorities

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have refused to display the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Democrats in Congress decline to finance the federal government, and as a result, many of our operations are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are working without pay,” the Secretary remarked in the video.

Portland Response

The Portland airport authority explained that it “did not consent to playing the PSA in its present version, as we consider the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for political purposes.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits government staff from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that agreeing to play this content would break state law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to display the security announcement on similar grounds, stating in a statement that “the video's message included partisan statements that did not align with the impartial, educational nature of the public service announcements typically shown at checkpoint screens” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a federal law that forbids partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that government programs stay impartial.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport stated that it “declined to post the PSA” to stay “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, also refused, pointing to “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state local regulations and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also noted that the TSA lacks ownership of any screens at its security areas and that its limited display monitors are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

Westchester County, in a public comment, called the PSA “unacceptable, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the standards we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement makes political the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader stated, adding that the message was “overly alarming” and “erodes customer confidence.”

DHS Response

A DHS official, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the importance of opening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to identify methods to support government workers unpaid during the shutdown.