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Several prominent global air travel hubs across the America, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, 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 being shown at their security checkpoints.

Legal Issues Cited by Airport Officials

Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have refused to display the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the political statements could contravene state and federal law, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Democratic legislators refuse to fund the federal government, and as a result, many of our functions are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are unpaid,” the Secretary said in the video.

Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland explained that it “did not consent to playing the video in its present version, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars government staff from supporting or criticizing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this video would break Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to show the security announcement on similar grounds, saying in a release that “the video's message contained political messaging that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational nature of the public service announcements usually shown at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

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

Additional Airport Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport stated that it “refused to post the video” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the TSA does not own any monitors at its checkpoints and that its few digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Objection

Westchester County, in a public comment, described the PSA “inappropriate, unacceptable, and out of line with the values we anticipate 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 “erodes public trust.”

DHS Reply

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, an agency representative, echoed the Secretary's language to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a response, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the significance of opening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to end the federal closure” and was striving to find methods to support government workers unpaid during the closure.