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Several prominent global airports across the America, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have chosen to block a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the continuing government closure from playing at their security checkpoints.

Legal Issues Cited by Airport Officials

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to broadcast the footage at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could contravene federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars government workers from engaging in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to support funding for the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are disrupted, and most of our TSA employees are not receiving wages,” Noem said in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland clarified that it “would not agree to playing the PSA in its present version, as we consider the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political aims.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon prohibits government staff from supporting or criticizing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this content would break Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to display the TSA video on similar grounds, saying in a statement that “the video's message contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, informational purpose of the PSAs typically displayed at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

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

Additional Authority Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport stated that it “refused to display the PSA” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, citing “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte airport said that North Carolina municipal law and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The authority also noted that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Objection

The county, in a statement, called the video “inappropriate, improper, and inconsistent with the standards we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The PSA makes political the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader stated, adding that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines public trust.”

Homeland Security Reply

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democratic leaders will soon recognize the importance of opening the government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Solution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to find methods to support federal employees working without pay during the closure.