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Several key international airports across the America, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have chosen to block a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing federal government shutdown from being shown at their checkpoint areas.

Legal Issues Cited by Aviation Officials

Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have refused to broadcast the footage at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could breach state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which forbids federal employees from participating in partisan political activity.

“Democratic legislators refuse to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our operations are disrupted, and most of our TSA employees are not receiving wages,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority clarified that it “did not consent to displaying the video in its present version, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political aims.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars public employees from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to play this content would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also refused to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, noting in a statement that “its content contained partisan statements that did not align with the neutral, informational purpose of the public service announcements usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that forbids partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that public services remain non-partisan.

Additional Authority Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport stated that it “declined to display the video” to stay “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, similarly refused, citing “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that state local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not allow the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few display monitors are designated for directions, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Criticism

Westchester County, in a public comment, called the PSA “inappropriate, unacceptable, and out of line with the values we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement makes political the impacts of a government closure on security operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines public trust.”

Homeland Security Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated the Secretary's language to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the importance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Solution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to identify methods to support federal employees unpaid during the shutdown.