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Several key global air travel hubs across the United States, among them Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have chosen to prevent 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.

Regulatory Issues Cited by Airport Officials

Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have refused to show the footage at screening areas, stating that the political statements could violate state and federal law, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars federal employees from engaging in partisan actions.

“Democratic legislators refuse to finance the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our operations are affected, and most of our TSA workers are not receiving wages,” Noem remarked in the video.

The Port of Portland Response

The Portland airport authority noted that it “would not agree to playing the video in its current form, as we maintain the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars government staff from supporting or criticizing any political party and that agreeing to play this video would break Oregon law.

Las Vegas Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to show the security announcement on similar grounds, stating in a release that “the video's message contained partisan statements that did not align with the neutral, educational nature of the public service announcements typically shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that bans partisan actions by government employees to ensure that government programs remain non-partisan.

Further Authority Rejections

• Phoenix airport international airport stated that it “refused to display the video” to remain “consistent with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly declined, pointing to “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not permit the video in question.” The authority also added that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any screens at its security areas and that its few display monitors are designated for directions, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

The county, in a statement, called the PSA “unacceptable, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the standards we expect from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader said, noting that the message was “overly alarming” and “erodes public trust.”

DHS Response

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the significance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to end the federal closure” and was working to identify ways to support federal employees unpaid during the shutdown.