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Several key global air travel hubs across the United States, among them Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have decided to block a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the ongoing government closure from being shown at their security checkpoints.

Legal Issues Raised by Aviation Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have refused to display the footage at screening areas, stating that the political statements could violate state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars federal employees from participating in partisan actions.

“Democrats in Congress decline to support funding for the federal government, and as a result, many of our operations are disrupted, and most of our TSA staff are working without pay,” Noem remarked in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland clarified that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its present version, as we believe the Hatch Act explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for political aims.” It added that state regulations in Oregon bars public employees from supporting or criticizing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this content would violate state law.

Harry Reid International Statement

The Harry Reid International Airport also refused to display the TSA video on similar grounds, stating in a statement that “its content included political messaging that did not align with the impartial, informational nature of the public service announcements typically shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that bans partisan actions by government employees to guarantee that government programs remain unbiased.

Further Authority Responses

• Phoenix airport airport explained that it “declined to post the video” to stay “consistent with airport guidelines,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, citing “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its few display monitors are designated for directions, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

Westchester County, in a statement, called the video “unacceptable, improper, and out of line with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

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

Homeland Security Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated the Secretary's wording to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will soon recognize the significance of opening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Solution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to find methods to support federal employees working without pay during the shutdown.