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A number of major international airports across the America, among them Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have opted to block a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the continuing government closure from airing at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Concerns Raised by Airport Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to display the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could breach state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from participating in partisan actions.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to support funding for the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our functions are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are unpaid,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

Portland Response

The Port of Portland clarified that it “did not consent to displaying the video in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for political aims.” It added that Oregon law bars public employees from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to broadcast this video would violate Oregon law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to show the TSA video on similar grounds, stating in a release that “its content contained partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational purpose of the PSAs usually shown at checkpoint screens” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that forbids partisan actions by federal employees to guarantee that public services stay non-partisan.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport stated that it “declined to post the video” to remain “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, similarly refused, citing “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that North Carolina municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The authority also added that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any screens at its checkpoints and that its few digital screens are designated for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

The county, in a public comment, described the video “inappropriate, unacceptable, and out of line with the values we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

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

Homeland Security Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's wording to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democratic leaders will soon recognize the significance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Resolution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to end the government shutdown” and was striving to identify methods to assist federal employees unpaid during the closure.