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Several major global air travel hubs across the America, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have opted to restrict a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the current government closure from being shown at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Concerns Raised by Airport Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have declined to broadcast the video content at screening areas, stating that the political statements could breach state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act, which bars government workers from participating in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats decline to finance the federal government, and because of this, many of our functions are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are not receiving wages,” Noem stated in the announcement.

Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland noted that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its present version, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political aims.” It added that state regulations in Oregon prohibits government staff from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that agreeing to broadcast this video would violate Oregon law.

Las Vegas Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to display the TSA video on comparable reasons, stating in a release that “the video's message included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational purpose of the public service announcements typically shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that prohibits partisan actions by federal employees to guarantee that government programs stay non-partisan.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport stated that it “declined to post the video” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, also refused, pointing to “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state municipal law and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the TSA does not own any screens at its security areas and that its limited digital screens are reserved for directions, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Objection

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

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

Homeland Security Response

A DHS official, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated Noem’s wording to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a statement, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the significance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the federal closure” and was working to identify ways to support federal employees unpaid during the closure.