🔗 Share this article

Several major international air travel hubs across the US, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have opted to prevent a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the continuing federal government shutdown from being shown at their security checkpoints.

Regulatory Concerns Cited by Airport Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have declined to broadcast 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 bars government workers from participating in partisan actions.

“Democratic legislators decline to fund the federal government, and as a result, many of our activities are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are unpaid,” the Secretary stated in the announcement.

Portland Response

The Portland airport authority noted that it “did not consent to airing the PSA in its present version, as we maintain the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for political aims.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to broadcast this video would violate Oregon law.

Las Vegas Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to display the TSA video on similar grounds, stating in a release that “its content included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational nature of the public service announcements usually displayed at security checkpoints” and also referenced the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that prohibits political activities by federal employees to guarantee that public services stay non-partisan.

Additional Airport Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport explained that it “refused to display the video” to stay “consistent with airport policy,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its limited digital screens are reserved for directions, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Objection

The county, in a public comment, called the PSA “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our federal leaders.”

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

Homeland Security Response

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's wording to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the importance of opening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to end the federal closure” and was striving to find methods to assist government workers working without pay during the closure.