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A number of major global air travel hubs across the United States, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have opted to restrict a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing federal government shutdown from being shown at their checkpoint areas.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have refused to show the footage at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids federal employees from engaging in political campaigning.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to fund the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our activities are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are unpaid,” the Secretary said in the announcement.

Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority explained that it “would not agree to displaying the PSA in its current form, as we believe the federal law clearly prohibits use of public assets for political aims.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars public employees from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to play this content would break state law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to display the TSA video on similar grounds, noting in a statement that “the video's message included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational purpose of the PSAs typically shown at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that forbids partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that government programs stay non-partisan.

Additional Authority Rejections

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “refused to display the video” to stay “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly refused, pointing to “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also added that the TSA does not own any screens at its security areas and that its few display monitors are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Criticism

The county, in a public comment, called the video “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the standards we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader said, adding that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines customer confidence.”

DHS Reply

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s wording to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the significance of opening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Solution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to find methods to assist government workers unpaid during the closure.