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Several prominent global airports across the US, among them Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have decided to restrict a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the ongoing government closure from playing at their checkpoint areas.

Regulatory Concerns Cited by Airport Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester County have declined to display the video content at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from engaging in partisan actions.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to finance the federal government, and as a result, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA workers are not receiving wages,” the Secretary remarked in the video.

The Port of Portland Response

The Portland airport authority noted that it “would not agree to displaying the PSA in its present version, as we maintain the federal law clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that agreeing to play this video would violate state law.

Las Vegas Statement

The Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the security announcement on similar grounds, saying in a release that “its content included political messaging that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational nature of the public service announcements typically shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that forbids political activities by federal employees to ensure that government programs remain unbiased.

Additional Authority Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport stated that it “declined to post the video” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly declined, pointing to “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte airport said that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any screens at its security areas and that its limited display monitors are designated for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Objection

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

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

DHS Reply

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated the Secretary's language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will soon realize the significance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to end the federal closure” and was working to identify methods to support government workers working without pay during the shutdown.