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A number of major global air travel hubs across the America, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have opted to block a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democratic lawmakers for the current federal government shutdown from being shown at their security checkpoints.

Legal Issues Cited by Aviation Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to show the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could breach federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act, which forbids federal employees from participating in political campaigning.

“Democrats in Congress decline to finance the federal government, and as a result, many of our functions are affected, and most of our TSA staff are working without pay,” Noem remarked in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority explained that it “would not agree to displaying the PSA in its present version, as we believe the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for political aims.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars government staff from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that agreeing to play this video would violate state law.

Harry Reid International Statement

The Harry Reid airport also declined to display the TSA video on comparable reasons, saying in a release that “the video's message contained partisan statements that did not align with the neutral, educational purpose of the public service announcements usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

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

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “declined to post the video” to stay “consistent with airport policy,” which prohibits political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, citing “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that North Carolina municipal law and the airport's rules for screen content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any monitors at its checkpoints and that its few digital screens are designated for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Objection

The county, in a public comment, described the video “unacceptable, improper, and inconsistent with the standards we expect from our federal leaders.”

“The PSA makes political the impacts of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county executive said, adding that the tone was “overly alarming” and “erodes public trust.”

Homeland Security Reply

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the importance of opening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Solution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to identify ways to support federal employees working without pay during the closure.