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A number of key global airports across the America, among them Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have opted to restrict a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the continuing federal government shutdown from being shown at their checkpoint areas.

Regulatory Concerns Raised by Aviation Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to display the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could breach federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act, which forbids government workers from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our functions are affected, and most of our TSA employees are not receiving wages,” the Secretary stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland noted that it “did not consent to airing the PSA in its present version, as we maintain 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 promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this video would break state law.

Harry Reid International Position

The Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the TSA video on similar grounds, saying in a release that “the video's message included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational nature of the public service announcements usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that prohibits political activities by federal employees to guarantee that government programs stay unbiased.

Additional Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport airport stated that it “declined to display the video” to stay “in line with airport guidelines,” which prohibits 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 North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also added that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its checkpoints and that its limited digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Criticism

Westchester County, in a public comment, called the video “inappropriate, improper, and out of line with the standards we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement makes political the impacts of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive said, adding that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Response

A Department of Homeland Security official, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s language to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will soon realize the significance of reopening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Solution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was working to identify ways to assist government workers unpaid during the shutdown.