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Several key international air travel hubs across the America, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have opted to block a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the ongoing government closure from being shown at their screening locations.

Legal Concerns Raised by Aviation Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have refused to display the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could violate federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political campaigning.

“Democratic legislators refuse to support funding for the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are working without pay,” Noem stated in the video.

The Port of Portland Reaction

The Port of Portland noted that it “did not consent to displaying the video in its current form, as we maintain the federal law clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes.” It added that Oregon law bars government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to play this content would violate state law.

Harry Reid International Position

The Harry Reid airport also refused to show the TSA video on similar grounds, saying in a statement that “its content contained partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational purpose of the PSAs usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Explaining the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a federal law that forbids political activities by federal employees to guarantee that public services remain non-partisan.

Further Authority Rejections

• Phoenix Sky Harbor airport explained that it “declined to post the video” to stay “consistent with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also refused, citing “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that North Carolina local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not allow the referenced video.” The authority also added that the TSA does not own any screens at its security areas and that its limited display monitors are designated for directions, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Criticism

Westchester County, in a public comment, described the PSA “unacceptable, improper, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

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

DHS Reply

A DHS official, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, adding that “Democratic leaders will soon recognize the significance of opening the government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution

The Seattle authority said that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to end the federal closure” and was working to identify methods to support government workers working without pay during the shutdown.