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Several major global airports across the US, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have decided to block a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democratic lawmakers for the continuing federal government shutdown from playing at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Cited by Aviation Officials

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have declined to show the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act, which bars government workers from participating in political campaigning.

“Democratic legislators decline to support funding for the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our operations are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are working without pay,” Noem remarked in the video.

Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority clarified that it “did not consent to displaying the video in its current form, as we maintain the federal law explicitly forbids use of public assets for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits government staff from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to play this content would break Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to show the security announcement on similar grounds, saying in a statement that “the video's message contained partisan statements that did not align with the neutral, educational nature of the PSAs typically displayed at security checkpoints” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a federal law that bans political activities by government employees to ensure that public services remain non-partisan.

Additional Airport Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “declined to post the PSA” to stay “consistent with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, also refused, citing “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state municipal law and the airport's rules for digital content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the TSA lacks ownership of any screens at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Objection

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

“The PSA makes political the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the message was “overly alarming” and “undermines public trust.”

DHS Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's wording to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a response, adding that “Democrats will shortly realize the significance of opening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to find ways to assist government workers unpaid during the shutdown.