🔗 Share this article

A number of key global air travel hubs across the US, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have opted to prevent a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the current federal government shutdown from airing at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Raised by Aviation Officials

Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have refused to display the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could violate state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which forbids government workers from participating in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to finance the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are impacted, and most of our TSA employees are working without pay,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

Portland Response

The Port of Portland explained that it “did not consent to playing the video in its present version, as we consider the federal law clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political aims.” It added that state regulations in Oregon bars public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to play this content would break state law.

Harry Reid International Statement

The Harry Reid airport also declined to show the TSA video on similar grounds, stating in a statement that “the video's message included partisan statements that did not align with the impartial, educational purpose of the PSAs usually shown at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act is a federal law that bans political activities by federal employees to guarantee that public services stay unbiased.

Additional Airport Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “declined to display the PSA” to stay “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly declined, citing “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport said that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not permit the video in question.” The airport also added that the TSA does not own any monitors at its checkpoints and that its limited display monitors are designated for directions, travel information, and paid advertisements.

Westchester Criticism

The county, in a statement, described the PSA “inappropriate, improper, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our federal leaders.”

“The PSA makes political the impacts of a government closure on security operations,” the county leader said, noting that the tone was “overly alarming” and “undermines customer confidence.”

DHS Response

A DHS official, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s language to blame “partisan tactics” in a response, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the importance of reopening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Resolution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was working to find ways to support federal employees working without pay during the closure.