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A number of major international airports across the America, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have chosen to prevent a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the current federal government shutdown from playing at their screening locations.

Regulatory Issues Cited by Aviation Authorities

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have declined to display the footage at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits federal employees from participating in political campaigning.

“Congressional Democrats decline to fund the federal government, and as a result, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are working without pay,” the Secretary stated in the video.

Portland Response

The Portland airport authority noted that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its present version, as we consider the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political aims.” It added that Oregon law prohibits public employees from supporting or criticizing any political party and that consenting to play this content would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to show the TSA video on similar grounds, stating in a release that “the video's message contained political messaging that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational purpose of the PSAs usually shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Explaining the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that bans political activities by federal employees to guarantee that government programs stay non-partisan.

Further Airport Rejections

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “declined to post the PSA” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, also refused, citing “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not permit the video in question.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any screens at its checkpoints and that its few display monitors are designated for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

Westchester County, in a statement, described the PSA “inappropriate, unacceptable, and out of line with the standards we expect from our federal leaders.”

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a federal government shutdown on TSA operations,” the county leader said, adding that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.”

Homeland Security Response

A DHS official, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated the Secretary's language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democrats will soon realize the significance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was working to find methods to support government workers unpaid during the closure.