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A number of major international air travel hubs across the America, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have chosen to block a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democratic lawmakers for the continuing government closure from playing at their checkpoint areas.

Regulatory Concerns Raised by Aviation Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to display the footage at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could breach state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which bars government workers from engaging in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are unpaid,” Noem stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Response

The Port of Portland clarified that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its current form, as we believe the federal law explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” 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 break Oregon law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, stating in a release that “the video's message contained political messaging that was inconsistent with the neutral, informational purpose of the public service announcements usually shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that prohibits political activities by federal employees to ensure that public services stay impartial.

Further Authority Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “refused to display the video” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state local regulations and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the TSA does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its limited display monitors are designated for wayfinding, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Objection

The county, in a statement, described the video “unacceptable, improper, and inconsistent with the standards we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

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

DHS Reply

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's wording to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the importance of opening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was striving to identify ways to assist federal employees working without pay during the closure.