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A number of key global airports across the United States, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have chosen to restrict a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democratic lawmakers for the continuing federal government shutdown from airing at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to show the footage at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Democratic legislators decline to finance the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are not receiving wages,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority noted that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its present version, as we consider the federal law explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for political aims.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits government staff from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this content would violate Oregon law.

Las Vegas Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to show the TSA video on comparable reasons, stating in a release that “its content contained partisan statements that was inconsistent with the neutral, informational purpose of the PSAs usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

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

Additional Authority Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “refused to post the video” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, pointing to “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its checkpoints and that its limited digital screens are designated for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Criticism

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

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county executive stated, adding that the tone was “overly alarming” and “undermines public trust.”

DHS Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s wording to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will shortly recognize the significance of opening the government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was striving to identify ways to support government workers unpaid during the shutdown.