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A number of key global airports across the America, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have decided to block a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the current government closure from being shown at their checkpoint areas.

Regulatory Issues Raised by Aviation Authorities

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have refused to display the footage at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could breach state and federal law, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits federal employees from participating in political campaigning.

“Democratic legislators decline to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are not receiving wages,” Noem stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

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

Harry Reid International Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also refused to show the TSA video on comparable reasons, saying in a release that “its content contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, informational nature of the PSAs usually shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that forbids partisan actions by government employees to guarantee that government programs remain unbiased.

Additional Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport airport explained that it “declined to post the PSA” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly refused, citing “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state local regulations and the airport's rules for screen content “do not permit the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the TSA does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its limited display monitors are designated for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Objection

Westchester County, in a statement, described the video “inappropriate, unacceptable, and out of line with the standards we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a government closure on security operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.”

Homeland Security Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s language to blame “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will soon recognize the importance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to identify ways to assist government workers unpaid during the closure.