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Several key international airports across the America, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have opted to block a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democratic lawmakers for the current government closure from playing at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Concerns Cited by Airport Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have refused to broadcast the video content at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could breach federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act, which prohibits government workers from participating in political campaigning.

“Congressional Democrats decline to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our functions are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are not receiving wages,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland noted that it “did not consent to airing the video in its current form, as we consider the Hatch Act explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” It added that Oregon law prohibits government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to play this video would violate Oregon law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to show the security announcement on comparable reasons, noting in a statement that “the video's message included political messaging that did not align with the impartial, educational purpose of the PSAs typically displayed at security checkpoints” and also referenced the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that forbids political activities by government employees to ensure that government programs stay impartial.

Additional Airport Rejections

• Phoenix airport airport explained that it “declined to display the video” to stay “consistent with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, pointing to “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state municipal law and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its limited display monitors are designated for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Objection

Westchester County, in a statement, called the PSA “unacceptable, improper, and out of line with the standards we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The PSA makes political the effects of a federal government shutdown on TSA operations,” the county leader said, adding that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes customer confidence.”

DHS Response

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's language to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the significance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Resolution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to end the federal closure” and was striving to identify ways to support federal employees working without pay during the closure.