American Airports Refuse Kristi Noem PSA Faulting Democratic Party for Federal Closure

Several prominent global airports across the America, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have opted to block a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the continuing federal government shutdown from airing at their checkpoint areas.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to display the video content at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could breach federal and state regulations, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which bars government workers from participating in political campaigning.

“Democratic legislators decline to fund the federal government, and as a result, many of our functions are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are unpaid,” the Secretary remarked in the announcement.

Portland Response

The Portland airport authority explained that it “would not agree to playing the PSA in its present version, as we believe the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for political aims.” The port further stated 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 Position

The Harry Reid airport also declined to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, noting in a statement that “the video's message included political messaging that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational purpose of the PSAs typically shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that prohibits political activities by government employees to ensure that government programs stay non-partisan.

Additional Authority Rejections

• Phoenix airport airport explained that it “refused to post the video” to remain “consistent with airport policy,” which prohibits political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly refused, pointing to “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that North Carolina municipal law and the airport's rules for digital content “do not allow the video in question.” The authority also added that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its limited display monitors are reserved for directions, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Criticism

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

“The PSA politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county leader said, noting that the tone was “overly alarming” and “erodes public trust.”

Homeland Security Reply

A Department of Homeland Security official, an agency representative, echoed Noem’s language to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a response, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the significance of reopening the government.”

Bipartisan Calls for Solution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to end the government shutdown” and was working to identify ways to assist government workers unpaid during the closure.