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A number of prominent global air travel hubs across the United States, among them Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have decided to restrict a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the current government closure from being shown at their security checkpoints.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to broadcast the video content at screening areas, stating that the political statements could contravene state and federal law, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars government workers from participating in partisan political activity.

“Democratic legislators decline to finance the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our functions are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are working without pay,” Noem stated in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Response

The Portland airport authority explained that it “would not agree to airing the PSA in its current form, as we believe the federal law clearly prohibits use of public assets for political aims.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars public employees from supporting or criticizing any political party and that consenting to play this content would break state law.

Las Vegas Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to show the security announcement on similar grounds, saying in a release that “its content included political messaging that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational purpose of the public service announcements usually shown at security checkpoints” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that prohibits partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that government programs stay unbiased.

Additional Airport Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “declined to post the video” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, also declined, citing “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that North Carolina municipal law and the airport's rules for screen content “do not permit the video in question.” The authority also noted that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few display monitors are designated for directions, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Objection

The county, in a statement, described the PSA “unacceptable, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement makes political the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive stated, noting that the tone was “overly alarming” and “undermines customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Response

A Department of Homeland Security official, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's wording to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a statement, adding that “Democrats will soon recognize the significance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to end the federal closure” and was working to identify methods to support federal employees working without pay during the closure.