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Several prominent global airports across the US, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have opted to restrict a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the current government closure from being shown at their security checkpoints.

Legal Issues Cited by Airport Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester County have declined to show the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the political statements could breach federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits government workers from engaging in political campaigning.

“Democratic legislators decline to support funding for the federal government, and as a result, many of our activities are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are unpaid,” Noem said in the announcement.

Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority explained that it “would not agree to airing the PSA in its present version, as we maintain the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars public employees from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that agreeing to broadcast this video would violate state law.

Harry Reid International Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, saying in a release that “the video's message included political messaging that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational purpose of the PSAs usually shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a federal law that prohibits political activities by government employees to guarantee that government programs remain unbiased.

Further Authority Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “refused to post the video” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, pointing to “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its checkpoints and that its few display monitors are designated for wayfinding, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Criticism

The county, in a statement, described the video “unacceptable, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement makes political the impacts of a government closure on security operations,” the county executive said, noting that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.”

Homeland Security Reply

A DHS official, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s language to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will soon recognize the importance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Solution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was striving to find ways to support government workers working without pay during the closure.