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A number of major international airports across the United States, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have decided to block a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing government closure from playing at their screening locations.

Regulatory Issues Cited by Aviation Officials

Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to broadcast the footage at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could violate federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids federal employees from engaging in political campaigning.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to finance the federal government, and because of this, many of our functions are affected, and most of our TSA workers are working without pay,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland explained 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 Oregon law prohibits public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to play this content would violate state law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the security announcement on similar grounds, stating in a release that “its content included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational purpose of the public service announcements usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a federal law that bans political activities by government employees to ensure that public services remain unbiased.

Additional Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport airport explained that it “refused to display the PSA” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not permit the video in question.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its checkpoints and that its limited digital screens are designated for wayfinding, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

Westchester County, in a public comment, called the video “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader said, noting that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s language to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will soon realize the importance of reopening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Solution

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