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A number of prominent global airports across the America, among them Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have opted to restrict a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing federal government shutdown from playing at their security checkpoints.

Legal Issues Raised by Aviation Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to show the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids government workers from engaging in partisan actions.

“Democrats in Congress decline to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are unpaid,” Noem stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Portland airport authority noted that it “did not consent to playing the video in its present version, as we consider the federal law explicitly forbids use of public assets for political purposes.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits public employees from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to broadcast this video would break state law.

Las Vegas Statement

The Harry Reid airport also refused to show the security announcement on similar grounds, saying in a release that “its content contained political messaging that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational nature of the public service announcements typically shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Explaining the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a federal law that forbids political activities by government employees to ensure that government programs stay impartial.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport airport explained that it “declined to display the PSA” to stay “consistent with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, also declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport said that North Carolina municipal law and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not permit the video in question.” The authority also added that the TSA does not own any screens at its security areas and that its few display monitors are designated for wayfinding, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

Westchester County, in a public comment, called the PSA “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the tone was “overly alarming” and “erodes public trust.”

DHS Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's language to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democrats will soon realize the significance of reopening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Solution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to identify methods to assist federal employees working without pay during the closure.