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A number of key international airports across the US, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have chosen to prevent a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the current federal government shutdown from airing at their screening locations.

Legal Issues Raised by Airport Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have declined to broadcast the video content at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could contravene state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Democrats in Congress decline to finance the federal government, and as a result, many of our operations are disrupted, and most of our TSA employees are not receiving wages,” the Secretary said in the video.

Portland Response

The Portland airport authority clarified that it “did not consent to playing the PSA in its present version, as we consider the federal law explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for political aims.” It added that Oregon law prohibits government staff from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this video would violate state law.

Harry Reid International Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, stating in a statement that “the video's message contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, educational purpose of the PSAs usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Explaining the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that bans political activities by federal employees to ensure that public services stay non-partisan.

Further Authority Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport stated that it “declined to display the PSA” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which prohibits political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, also declined, pointing to “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state local regulations and the airport's rules for screen content “do not permit 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 display monitors are designated for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Criticism

The county, in a statement, called the video “inappropriate, improper, and out of line with the standards we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader stated, adding 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 wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, adding that “Democrats will shortly recognize the importance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was striving to find methods to support government workers unpaid during the shutdown.