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Several prominent global air travel hubs across the US, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have decided to prevent a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the current government closure from playing at their security checkpoints.

Legal Issues Raised by Aviation Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to show the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could contravene federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act, which prohibits government workers from participating in political campaigning.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to support funding for the federal government, and as a result, many of our functions are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are not receiving wages,” the Secretary said in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority explained that it “would not agree to playing the video in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for political aims.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars government staff from promoting or opposing any political party and that consenting to play this video would violate Oregon law.

Las Vegas Statement

The Harry Reid airport also declined to show the TSA video on comparable reasons, saying in a release that “the video's message included political messaging that was inconsistent with the neutral, 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 prohibits political activities by federal employees to ensure that government programs remain unbiased.

Additional Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport stated that it “refused to post the PSA” to stay “consistent with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, also refused, citing “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that North Carolina municipal law and the airport's rules for digital content “do not allow the video in question.” The authority also added that the TSA does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its limited digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

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

“The PSA makes political the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader said, adding that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Response

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a response, adding that “Democrats will soon realize the significance of reopening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Solution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to find methods to support federal employees working without pay during the shutdown.