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Several key global air travel hubs across the America, among them Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have decided to prevent a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown from airing at their checkpoint areas.

Regulatory Concerns Cited by Aviation Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have refused to broadcast the footage at screening areas, stating that the political statements could contravene state and federal law, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political campaigning.

“Democrats in Congress decline to finance the federal government, and as a result, many of our activities are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are working without pay,” the Secretary stated in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland clarified that it “would not agree to playing the video in its current form, as we maintain the Hatch Act explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for political aims.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that consenting to broadcast this content would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to display the TSA video on similar grounds, saying in a release that “the video's message contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, educational purpose of the PSAs usually shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act Regulations

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

Additional Authority Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “declined to post the video” to remain “consistent with airport guidelines,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, also declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that state local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its few display monitors are designated for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

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

“The PSA makes political the effects of a federal government shutdown on TSA operations,” the county executive stated, noting that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines public trust.”

Homeland Security Reply

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s wording to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the significance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Solution

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