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Several major international airports across the US, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have decided to block a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democratic lawmakers for the continuing government closure from airing at their security checkpoints.

Legal Concerns Cited by Aviation Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to display the footage at screening areas, stating that the political statements could contravene federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are working without pay,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland clarified that it “would not agree to airing the video in its present version, as we maintain the federal law explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits public employees from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to play this video would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the TSA video on comparable reasons, saying in a statement that “its content contained political messaging that was inconsistent with the neutral, informational purpose of the PSAs usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

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

Further Airport Rejections

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “declined to post the video” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, citing “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not permit the video in question.” The authority also noted that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few digital screens are designated for directions, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Objection

The county, in a public comment, called the PSA “unacceptable, improper, and out of line with the values we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The PSA makes political the effects of a government closure on security operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the message was “overly alarming” and “undermines public trust.”

DHS Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s language to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a statement, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the importance of reopening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Solution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to identify ways to support government workers working without pay during the closure.