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Several key international airports across the America, among them Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have chosen to block a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democratic lawmakers for the continuing government closure from playing at their checkpoint areas.

Regulatory Issues Cited by Aviation Authorities

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have declined to show the video content 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.

“Congressional Democrats decline to support funding for the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are working without pay,” the Secretary stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland noted that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars government staff from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that consenting to play this content would violate state law.

Las Vegas Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also refused to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, noting in a release that “its content contained political messaging that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational nature of the public service announcements typically shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

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

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport stated that it “declined to post the video” to remain “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, citing “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not permit the referenced video.” The authority also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its checkpoints and that its limited display monitors are designated for directions, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

The county, in a statement, described the video “inappropriate, improper, and inconsistent with the values we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement makes political the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive stated, noting that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.”

Homeland Security Response

A DHS official, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, adding that “Democrats will shortly recognize the importance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was working to identify ways to support government workers working without pay during the closure.