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Several key international airports across the America, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have decided to block a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the current federal government shutdown from playing at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have refused to broadcast the footage at screening areas, stating that the political statements could contravene federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from participating in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to fund the federal government, and as a result, many of our activities are disrupted, and most of our TSA employees are not receiving wages,” the Secretary said in the video.

Portland Response

The Portland airport authority explained that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its present version, as we maintain the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon prohibits public employees from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that agreeing to broadcast this content would break state law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also refused to display the TSA video on comparable reasons, stating in a statement that “the video's message included partisan statements that did not align with the impartial, informational purpose of the PSAs typically displayed at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a federal law that prohibits political activities by government employees to guarantee that public services stay unbiased.

Further Authority Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport explained that it “declined to display the PSA” to remain “consistent with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly declined, citing “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 added that the TSA does not own any screens at its security areas and that its few display monitors are designated for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Criticism

The county, in a public comment, called the PSA “inappropriate, improper, and inconsistent with the values we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

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

DHS Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated the Secretary's language to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a response, adding that “Democrats will shortly recognize the significance of opening the government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Solution

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