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Several major international air travel hubs across the United States, among them Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have chosen to restrict a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown from being shown at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Raised by Aviation Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to show the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act, which forbids federal employees from participating in political campaigning.

“Congressional Democrats decline to finance the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our functions are affected, and most of our TSA workers are not receiving wages,” the Secretary stated in the announcement.

Portland Response

The Portland airport authority explained that it “did not consent to displaying the video in its present version, as we consider the federal law clearly prohibits use of public assets for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars government staff from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this video would violate state law.

Las Vegas Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also refused to display the TSA video on similar grounds, saying in a statement that “the video's message included political messaging that was inconsistent with the neutral, informational nature of the public service announcements usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a federal law that forbids partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that government programs remain unbiased.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport explained that it “declined to post the PSA” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, citing “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that North Carolina municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any screens at its security areas and that its limited display monitors are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Criticism

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

“The PSA politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county executive said, adding that the message was “overly alarming” and “erodes customer confidence.”

DHS Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated the Secretary's language to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will shortly realize the significance of opening the government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Solution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to find ways to assist federal employees unpaid during the closure.