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A number of prominent global airports across the United States, among them Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have chosen to block a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the ongoing government closure from being shown at their security checkpoints.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Officials

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

“Democratic legislators decline to support funding for the federal government, and as a result, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA staff are not receiving wages,” Noem remarked in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority noted that it “did not consent to playing the video in its present version, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political aims.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon prohibits government staff from supporting or criticizing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this video would break Oregon 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 “its content contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, educational nature of the PSAs typically shown at security checkpoints” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Explaining 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 non-partisan.

Additional Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport explained that it “refused to post the PSA” to remain “consistent with airport policy,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, also declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport said that North Carolina municipal law and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

Westchester County, in a statement, called the video “unacceptable, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the standards we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The PSA makes political the effects of a government closure on security operations,” the county executive said, noting that the message was “overly alarming” and “undermines customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Response

A DHS assistant secretary, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will shortly recognize the significance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Solution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was working to identify ways to support government workers working without pay during the shutdown.