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A number of prominent international air travel hubs across the US, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have decided to block a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the continuing government closure from airing at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Concerns Raised by Airport Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to broadcast the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could violate state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which prohibits government workers from participating in partisan actions.

“Democratic legislators refuse to support funding for the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are working without pay,” Noem said in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland noted that it “would not agree to playing the PSA in its current form, as we believe the federal law clearly prohibits use of public assets for political aims.” It added that Oregon law prohibits public employees from supporting or criticizing any political party and that consenting to broadcast this content would violate Oregon law.

Las Vegas Statement

The Harry Reid airport also refused to show the security announcement on similar grounds, saying in a release that “its content contained political messaging that was inconsistent with the neutral, informational nature of the PSAs usually shown at checkpoint screens” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Explaining the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a federal law that bans partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that public services stay impartial.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “declined to display the video” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, citing “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte airport said that state municipal law and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The authority also added that the TSA lacks ownership of any screens at its security areas and that its limited display monitors are reserved for directions, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Criticism

Westchester County, in a statement, described the video “unacceptable, improper, and inconsistent with the standards we expect from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the tone was “overly alarming” and “undermines customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Reply

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, an agency representative, repeated the Secretary's wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will soon recognize the importance of opening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to find methods to support government workers working without pay during the shutdown.