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Several major international air travel hubs across the America, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have opted to restrict a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the continuing government closure from playing at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Concerns Cited by Aviation Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have refused to display the video content at screening areas, stating that the political statements could breach federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from participating in partisan actions.

“Democratic legislators refuse to finance the federal government, and as a result, many of our operations are disrupted, and most of our TSA employees are not receiving wages,” the Secretary stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Response

The Port of Portland clarified that it “did not consent to displaying the video in its present version, as we maintain the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political aims.” 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 video would break Oregon law.

Las Vegas Position

The Harry Reid airport also declined to display the TSA video on similar grounds, stating in a statement that “the video's message included political messaging that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational purpose of the PSAs usually displayed at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that forbids partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that public services remain non-partisan.

Additional Authority Rejections

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “declined to display the PSA” to remain “consistent with airport policy,” which prohibits political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that North Carolina municipal law and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not permit the referenced video.” The authority also added that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any screens at its security areas and that its limited digital screens are designated for directions, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

The county, in a statement, called the video “inappropriate, unacceptable, and out of line with the standards we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement makes political the effects of a government closure on security operations,” the county executive said, noting that the message was “overly alarming” and “undermines public trust.”

DHS Reply

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a statement, adding that “Democrats will shortly realize the significance of opening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Solution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was striving to find ways to support government workers unpaid during the closure.