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Several key international airports across the US, among them Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have decided to restrict a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown from playing at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Raised by Aviation Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have refused to broadcast the video content at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate state and federal law, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Democratic legislators refuse to fund the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our functions are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are not receiving wages,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority explained that it “did not consent to displaying the PSA in its present version, as we maintain the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political purposes.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits public employees from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that agreeing to play this video would break state law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, saying in a release that “the video's message contained partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational nature of the public service announcements usually displayed at security checkpoints” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

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

Further Authority Rejections

• Phoenix airport airport stated that it “declined to post the video” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, citing “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state local regulations and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The authority also noted that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any monitors at its checkpoints and that its few digital screens are designated for directions, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

Westchester County, in a statement, called the video “unacceptable, improper, and out of line with the standards we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the tone was “overly alarming” and “erodes customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Reply

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will soon realize the significance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Solution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to find methods to support government workers working without pay during the shutdown.