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Several major global airports across the US, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have chosen to prevent a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the ongoing government closure from playing at their security checkpoints.

Legal Issues Raised by Airport Officials

Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have declined to display the footage at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could breach state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars government workers from engaging in political campaigning.

“Democratic legislators decline to fund the federal government, and as a result, many of our activities are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are working without pay,” Noem stated in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority noted that it “did not consent to displaying the PSA in its present version, as we believe the federal law clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political aims.” It added that Oregon law prohibits public employees from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that agreeing to broadcast this video would break Oregon law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to show the TSA video on similar grounds, noting in a release that “its content contained partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational purpose of the public service announcements usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a federal law that bans partisan actions by government employees to ensure that public services stay unbiased.

Additional Authority Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport explained that it “refused to display the PSA” to remain “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly declined, 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 referenced video.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few display monitors are designated for directions, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Objection

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

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

Homeland Security Reply

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s language to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the significance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to identify methods to support federal employees unpaid during the closure.