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A number of key global airports across the America, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have decided to restrict a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the current government closure from playing at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Issues Raised by Aviation Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to show the video content at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act, which prohibits government workers from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Democrats in Congress decline to fund the federal government, and as a result, many of our operations are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are working without pay,” Noem remarked in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Response

The Portland airport authority noted that it “would not agree to playing the video in its present version, as we consider the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” It added that Oregon law bars government staff from supporting or criticizing any political party and that agreeing to play this content would break state law.

Las Vegas Position

The Harry Reid airport also declined to show the TSA video on comparable reasons, stating in a statement that “its content contained partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational purpose of the public service announcements usually shown at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that forbids political activities by government employees to ensure that public services stay unbiased.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport airport stated that it “refused to display the video” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which prohibits political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly declined, citing “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state local regulations and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the referenced video.” The authority also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any monitors at its checkpoints and that its few digital screens are reserved for directions, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Objection

Westchester County, in a public comment, described the video “unacceptable, improper, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our federal leaders.”

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a federal government shutdown on TSA operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the message was “overly alarming” and “erodes public trust.”

Homeland Security Reply

A DHS official, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “political gamesmanship” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will shortly recognize the importance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Solution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was striving to find methods to assist government workers unpaid during the closure.