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Several key global airports across the US, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have opted to prevent a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the current federal government shutdown from playing at their screening locations.

Regulatory Concerns Raised by Aviation Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to broadcast the footage at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could breach state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from participating in partisan political activity.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to support funding for the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our functions are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are unpaid,” the Secretary stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Response

The Portland airport authority clarified that it “did not consent to airing the video in its current form, as we consider the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for political purposes.” It added that Oregon law bars government staff from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that agreeing 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 partisan statements that did not align with the neutral, informational nature of the public service announcements typically shown at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that prohibits partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that public services remain non-partisan.

Further Authority Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport explained that it “declined to post the video” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly refused, citing “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte airport said that North Carolina municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its limited digital screens are reserved for directions, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Objection

Westchester County, in a statement, called the PSA “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the standards we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

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

Homeland Security Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, adding that “Democrats will shortly recognize the significance of opening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

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