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A number of key international airports across the America, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have opted to prevent a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the continuing federal government shutdown from airing at their checkpoint areas.

Legal Issues Raised by Aviation Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have refused to display the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the political statements could violate state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids government workers from participating in political campaigning.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to support funding for the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our operations are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are unpaid,” the Secretary said in the video.

The Port of Portland Response

The Port of Portland explained that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its present version, as we maintain the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political purposes.” It added that state regulations in Oregon bars public employees from supporting or criticizing any political party and that consenting to play this video would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

The Harry Reid airport also refused to show the TSA video on comparable reasons, saying in a release that “its content included political messaging that did not align with the impartial, informational nature of the public service announcements usually shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a federal law that forbids political activities by government employees to guarantee that government programs stay impartial.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “refused to post the PSA” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, also declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state municipal law and the airport's rules for screen content “do not permit the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few display monitors are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Objection

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

“The public service announcement makes political the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the tone was “overly alarming” and “undermines public trust.”

Homeland Security Response

A DHS assistant secretary, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s language to blame “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democrats will shortly recognize the importance of opening the government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Resolution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was striving to find ways to assist federal employees unpaid during the closure.