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A number of key international air travel hubs across the US, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have decided to prevent a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democratic lawmakers for the current federal government shutdown from playing at their screening locations.

Legal Issues Cited by Airport Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have refused to display the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the overtly political messaging could breach federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars government workers from participating in partisan political activity.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to finance the federal government, and as a result, many of our activities are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are not receiving wages,” Noem stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority explained that it “did not consent to displaying the PSA in its current form, as we consider the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for political aims.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars public employees from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to broadcast this video would violate Oregon law.

Las Vegas Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, stating in a statement that “its content included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational nature of the public service announcements usually displayed at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that forbids partisan actions by government employees to ensure that public services stay impartial.

Further Authority Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “refused to display the PSA” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly declined, citing “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few digital screens are designated for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Criticism

Westchester County, in a public comment, described the video “inappropriate, unacceptable, and out of line with the values we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The PSA politicizes the impacts of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive said, adding that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.”

DHS Response

A DHS official, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, adding that “Democratic leaders will soon realize the significance of opening the government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Solution

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