American Airports Block Homeland Security Video Blaming Democrats for Federal Closure

A number of key international air travel hubs across the America, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have opted to prevent a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the continuing government closure from airing at their screening locations.

Legal Issues Cited by Aviation Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to show the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could breach state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids federal employees from participating in partisan political activity.

“Democrats in Congress refuse to finance the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are disrupted, and most of our TSA workers are unpaid,” the Secretary stated in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Response

The Port of Portland noted that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its present version, as we maintain the federal law clearly prohibits use of public assets for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that Oregon law prohibits government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to play this video would violate state law.

Harry Reid International Statement

The Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the TSA video on similar grounds, noting in a statement that “its content contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, educational nature of the public service announcements typically shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that forbids political activities by government employees to ensure that public services remain impartial.

Further Authority Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport explained that it “declined to display the PSA” to stay “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits political content.
• The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, also refused, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that state municipal law and the airport's rules for screen content “do not permit the referenced video.” The authority also added that the TSA does not own any monitors at its security areas and that its limited digital screens are designated for directions, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

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

“The PSA politicizes the effects of a government closure on security operations,” the county executive stated, adding that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “undermines public trust.”

DHS Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's language to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a statement, adding that “Democrats will soon realize the importance of reopening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Solution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the government shutdown” and was striving to identify ways to support government workers working without pay during the closure.