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A number of key global air travel hubs across the US, among them Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have decided to restrict a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the current government closure from airing at their security checkpoints.

Legal Issues Raised by Aviation Officials

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have refused to broadcast the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the political statements could breach federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from participating in political campaigning.

“Democratic legislators decline to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are working without pay,” the Secretary stated in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Response

The Portland airport authority noted that it “would not agree to playing the PSA in its present version, as we consider the federal law explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for political aims.” It added that Oregon law prohibits public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that consenting to play this content would break state law.

Las Vegas Statement

The Harry Reid airport also declined to display the security announcement on similar grounds, stating in a statement that “its content contained political messaging that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational purpose of the PSAs typically shown at security checkpoints” and also referenced the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act

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

Further Authority Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “declined to display the PSA” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which prohibits political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly refused, pointing to “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state municipal law and the airport's rules for digital content “do not permit the video in question.” The airport also added that the TSA does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Objection

The county, in a public comment, described the PSA “unacceptable, improper, and out of line with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The PSA makes political the effects of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county executive stated, adding that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines customer confidence.”

Homeland Security Response

A DHS assistant secretary, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s language to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the significance of opening the government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution

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