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A number of key international airports across the United States, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have decided to restrict a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the continuing federal government shutdown from playing at their checkpoint areas.

Legal Concerns Raised by Aviation Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to broadcast the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Congressional Democrats decline to finance the federal government, and because of this, many of our activities are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are not receiving wages,” Noem said in the announcement.

Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority clarified that it “would not agree to airing the video in its current form, as we maintain the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political purposes.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars public employees from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that consenting to play this content would break Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

The Harry Reid International Airport also declined to show the security announcement on similar grounds, stating in a release that “the video's message included political messaging that did not align with the impartial, informational purpose of the PSAs typically shown at security checkpoints” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that bans political activities by government employees to guarantee that public services remain impartial.

Further Airport Rejections

• Phoenix airport airport explained that it “declined to post the PSA” to remain “consistent with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, 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 rules for screen content “do not permit the video in question.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its security areas and that its few display monitors are reserved for directions, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Objection

The county, in a statement, described the PSA “unacceptable, improper, and inconsistent with the values we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.”

DHS Response

A DHS assistant secretary, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s language to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the importance of opening the government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Resolution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to identify ways to support government workers unpaid during the shutdown.