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Several major international airports across the US, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have chosen to prevent a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown from airing at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester County have declined to show the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene state and federal law, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids government workers from engaging in political campaigning.

“Democratic legislators decline to finance 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,” the Secretary stated in the video.

Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland explained that it “did not consent to airing the PSA in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for political purposes.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to play this video would break state law.

Las Vegas Statement

The Harry Reid International Airport also refused to show the security announcement on comparable reasons, saying in a statement that “its content included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational nature of the public service announcements typically displayed at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

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

Additional Airport Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport stated that it “declined to post the video” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which prohibits political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport said that state local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any screens at its checkpoints and that its limited digital screens are designated for wayfinding, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Objection

Westchester County, in a public comment, described the PSA “inappropriate, improper, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement makes political the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader said, noting that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.”

Homeland Security Reply

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a response, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the significance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to find methods to support government workers unpaid during the closure.