🔗 Share this article

Several key international airports across the United States, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have opted to restrict a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the continuing government closure from playing at their screening locations.

Regulatory Issues Cited by Airport Officials

Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have declined to show the video content at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could breach state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.

“Democratic legislators decline to support funding for the federal government, and as a result, many of our activities are affected, and most of our TSA workers are unpaid,” Noem stated in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Reaction

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

Harry Reid International Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to display the TSA video on comparable reasons, stating in a release that “the video's message contained political messaging that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational nature of the PSAs typically shown at security checkpoints” and also referenced the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that forbids partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that government programs stay impartial.

Further Authority Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport stated that it “refused to post the PSA” to stay “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, similarly refused, pointing to “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The authority also added that the TSA lacks ownership of any screens at its checkpoints and that its limited display monitors are reserved for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

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

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

DHS Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, an agency representative, repeated the Secretary's wording to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly recognize the significance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Solution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to identify methods to assist federal employees working without pay during the shutdown.