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Several key global air travel hubs across the US, among them Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have chosen to block a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown from playing at their screening locations.

Regulatory Concerns Raised by Airport Officials

Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have declined to display the footage at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits government workers from participating in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats decline to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our functions are impacted, and most of our TSA workers are not receiving wages,” Noem remarked in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority noted that it “would not agree to airing the video in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that consenting to play this video would break Oregon law.

Las Vegas Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to show the security announcement on comparable reasons, saying in a statement that “the video's message included political messaging that was inconsistent with the neutral, informational nature of the public service announcements usually shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that prohibits political activities by federal employees to ensure that public services remain unbiased.

Additional Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “declined to display the PSA” to stay “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, citing “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport said that North Carolina municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any screens at its security areas and that its few display monitors are designated for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

The county, in a public comment, called the PSA “unacceptable, unacceptable, and out of line with the standards we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a government closure on security operations,” the county leader said, adding that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s language to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democrats will soon recognize the importance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Solution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to find methods to support federal employees working without pay during the closure.