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Several prominent global air travel hubs across the United States, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have chosen to restrict a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing federal government shutdown from airing at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Officials

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have declined to show the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the political statements could contravene federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act, which bars government workers from engaging in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to support funding for the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our activities are disrupted, and most of our TSA staff are working without pay,” Noem said in the video.

Portland Response

The Port of Portland explained that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for political aims.” It added that Oregon law bars public employees from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that agreeing to broadcast this video would break state law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, saying in a statement that “the video's message contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, informational purpose of the public service announcements usually shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that prohibits political activities by government employees to guarantee that government programs remain unbiased.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “declined to display the video” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which prohibits political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, also refused, pointing to “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not permit the video in question.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for directions, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

The county, in a statement, called the PSA “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the standards we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The PSA makes political the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county executive stated, adding that the tone was “overly alarming” and “undermines customer confidence.”

DHS Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democrats will soon recognize the importance of opening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to find ways to assist federal employees working without pay during the closure.