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Several prominent global air travel hubs across the America, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have opted to block a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the continuing government closure from airing at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Concerns Cited by Airport Authorities

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to show the footage at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which bars government workers from engaging in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats decline to support funding for the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our functions are impacted, and most of our TSA staff are working without pay,” the Secretary stated in the announcement.

Portland Response

The Portland airport authority clarified that it “would not agree to airing the video in its present version, as we consider the federal law clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political aims.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that agreeing to broadcast this content would violate Oregon law.

Las Vegas Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also refused to show the TSA video on similar grounds, noting in a release that “its content contained political messaging that did not align with the neutral, informational nature of the PSAs usually shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that bans political activities by government employees to ensure that public services remain unbiased.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport airport stated that it “declined to post the PSA” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, citing “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also noted that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

The county, in a statement, described the video “unacceptable, unacceptable, and out of line with the standards we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.”

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

Homeland Security Response

A Department of Homeland Security official, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s wording to blame “political gamesmanship” in a statement, stating that “Democratic leaders will soon realize the significance of reopening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Resolution

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