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A number of prominent global airports across the United States, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have opted to prevent a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the ongoing government closure from playing at their security checkpoints.

Legal Issues Raised by Aviation Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have declined to show the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits government workers from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to support funding for the federal government, and as a result, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are not receiving wages,” Noem remarked in the announcement.

Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland explained that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its current form, as we believe the federal law clearly prohibits use of public assets for political aims.” It added that Oregon law prohibits government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to broadcast this content would break Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also refused to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, stating in a statement that “its content included political messaging that did not align with the impartial, educational purpose of the PSAs typically shown at security checkpoints” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that bans political activities by federal employees to ensure that public services remain non-partisan.

Additional Authority Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “declined to display the PSA” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, citing “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not permit the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few display monitors are reserved for directions, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Objection

The county, in a public comment, called the PSA “inappropriate, improper, and inconsistent with the standards we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive said, noting that the tone was “overly alarming” and “undermines customer confidence.”

DHS Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s wording to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democrats will shortly recognize the importance of opening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the federal closure” and was working to identify methods to support government workers unpaid during the closure.