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A number of key international airports across the US, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have decided to prevent a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the continuing government closure from being shown at their screening locations.

Regulatory Concerns Cited by Airport Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to show the video content at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars government workers from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Congressional Democrats decline to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are disrupted, and most of our TSA workers are unpaid,” the Secretary stated in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority explained that it “did not consent to displaying the video in its present version, as we consider the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that agreeing to play this video would violate state law.

Las Vegas Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to display the security announcement on similar grounds, stating in a statement that “the video's message contained political messaging that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational purpose of the public service announcements usually shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a federal law that prohibits political activities by government employees to guarantee that government programs remain non-partisan.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “refused to display the video” to remain “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, similarly refused, citing “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that North Carolina local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not permit the video in question.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Criticism

Westchester County, in a statement, described the video “inappropriate, improper, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the message was “overly alarming” and “undermines customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Response

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated Noem’s wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will shortly recognize the importance of opening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the government shutdown” and was striving to identify ways to support government workers unpaid during the shutdown.