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A number of key international airports across the US, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have chosen to restrict a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the continuing government closure from airing at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Issues Raised by Aviation Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have refused to show the video content at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could contravene federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids government workers from participating in partisan political activity.

“Congressional Democrats decline to finance the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA staff are not receiving wages,” Noem said in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Response

The Port of Portland explained that it “did not consent to playing the PSA in its current form, as we maintain the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that agreeing to broadcast this content would break Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to show the TSA video on comparable reasons, saying in a release that “its content included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational nature of the public service announcements usually shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that prohibits political activities by government employees to ensure that public services stay non-partisan.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “declined to display the video” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, pointing to “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also added that the TSA lacks ownership of any screens at its checkpoints and that its limited display monitors are reserved for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Objection

The county, in a public comment, described the PSA “unacceptable, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the standards we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive said, adding that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines public trust.”

Homeland Security Response

A Department of Homeland Security official, an agency representative, echoed the Secretary's language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a statement, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the importance of opening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to find methods to assist federal employees working without pay during the shutdown.