🔗 Share this article

Several key international airports across the United States, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have chosen to prevent a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the continuing government closure from being shown at their screening locations.

Regulatory Issues Raised by Airport Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have refused to broadcast the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the political statements could violate federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act, which forbids federal employees from engaging in political campaigning.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to support funding for the federal government, and as a result, many of our activities are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are working without pay,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland clarified that it “would not agree to displaying the PSA in its current form, as we believe the federal law clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon prohibits government staff from supporting or criticizing any party affiliation and that agreeing to broadcast this video would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

The Harry Reid International Airport also refused to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, saying in a statement that “the video's message included political messaging that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational nature of the public service announcements usually displayed at security checkpoints” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that prohibits political activities by government employees to ensure that government programs stay unbiased.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix airport airport stated that it “refused to display the video” to remain “consistent with airport policy,” which does not allow political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly declined, pointing to “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte airport said that state local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not permit the video in question.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any monitors at its checkpoints and that its few display monitors are reserved for directions, 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 nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA operations,” the county executive said, noting that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines public trust.”

DHS Response

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's wording to blame “partisan tactics” in a response, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the significance of opening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Solution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to end the government shutdown” and was striving to find methods to assist federal employees working without pay during the closure.