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A number of prominent international air travel hubs across the US, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have chosen to restrict a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the continuing government closure from being shown at their checkpoint areas.

Regulatory Concerns Cited by Airport Officials

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to display the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the political statements could contravene federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars federal employees from engaging in partisan actions.

“Democratic legislators decline to fund the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our functions are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are working without pay,” Noem stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Response

The Port of Portland clarified that it “did not consent to playing the PSA in its present version, as we consider 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 political party and that agreeing to play this content would break state law.

Las Vegas Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to display the TSA video on similar grounds, stating in a statement that “its content included political messaging that did not align with the impartial, informational purpose of the PSAs usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that prohibits political activities by federal employees to guarantee that public services stay impartial.

Further Authority Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “declined to display the video” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, similarly refused, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state local regulations and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few display monitors are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Criticism

The county, in a public comment, described the PSA “unacceptable, unacceptable, and out of line with the standards we expect from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement makes political the impacts of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county leader said, adding that the message was “overly alarming” and “undermines public trust.”

DHS Response

A DHS official, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democrats will soon recognize the significance of reopening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Solution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to find ways to support federal employees unpaid during the closure.