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A number of prominent global air travel hubs across the US, among them Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have decided to block a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing federal government shutdown from airing at their checkpoint areas.

Legal Issues Cited by Aviation Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have declined to display the video content at screening areas, stating that the political statements could breach state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act, which forbids federal employees from participating in partisan political activity.

“Democratic legislators decline to finance the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our functions are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are not receiving wages,” Noem stated in the video.

Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland clarified that it “would not agree to displaying the PSA in its current form, as we consider the federal law clearly prohibits use of public assets for political aims.” It added that Oregon law bars government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to broadcast this content would break state law.

Harry Reid International Statement

The Harry Reid airport also refused to show the security announcement on similar grounds, noting in a release that “the video's message contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, educational purpose of the PSAs usually shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that forbids political activities by federal employees to ensure that public services stay impartial.

Further Airport Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport stated that it “declined to post the PSA” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly refused, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not allow the video in question.” The authority also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its limited display monitors are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Criticism

Westchester County, in a statement, described the video “unacceptable, improper, and out of line with the standards 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, noting that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, adding that “Democrats will shortly recognize the significance of reopening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Solution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to find methods to assist government workers unpaid during the closure.