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Several major international air travel hubs across the US, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have opted to prevent a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing government closure from playing at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Raised by Airport Authorities

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester County have declined to show the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could contravene federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act, which bars government workers from participating in partisan political activity.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our activities are impacted, and most of our TSA workers are unpaid,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland noted that it “did not consent to airing the PSA in its present version, as we consider the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political aims.” It added that state regulations in Oregon prohibits government staff from promoting or opposing any political party and that consenting to broadcast this content would break Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to show the TSA video on similar grounds, noting in a release that “the video's message contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, educational nature of the PSAs usually shown at security checkpoints” and also referenced the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that forbids partisan actions by government employees to ensure that public services stay non-partisan.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “declined to post the PSA” to remain “consistent with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly refused, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that North Carolina municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The authority also added that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its limited digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Objection

The county, in a public comment, described the video “unacceptable, unacceptable, and out of line with the values we expect from our federal leaders.”

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a government closure on security operations,” the county leader stated, adding that the tone was “overly alarming” and “erodes customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Response

A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, an agency representative, echoed the Secretary's wording to blame “political gamesmanship” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will shortly realize the significance of opening the government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Solution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to identify ways to assist government workers unpaid during the shutdown.