US Air Hubs Block Homeland Security PSA Blaming Democratic Party for Government Shutdown

A number of major global airports across the America, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have chosen to block a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the current federal government shutdown from airing at their screening locations.

Legal Issues Cited by Aviation Authorities

Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester County have declined to broadcast the video content at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could contravene state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from engaging in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats refuse to support funding for the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our activities are affected, and most of our TSA employees are unpaid,” the Secretary said in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Response

The Portland airport authority clarified that it “would not agree to playing the PSA in its present version, as we consider the Hatch Act clearly prohibits utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars government staff from supporting or criticizing any political party and that consenting to play this video would violate Oregon law.

Las Vegas Position

The Harry Reid International Airport also refused to display the security announcement on similar grounds, noting in a release that “the video's message contained partisan statements that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational nature of the PSAs typically shown at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that prohibits partisan actions by government employees to guarantee that public services remain non-partisan.

Further Airport Responses

• Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport stated that it “declined to display the video” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, citing “the political nature of the content.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that North Carolina local regulations and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any screens at its checkpoints and that its limited display monitors are designated for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Objection

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

“The PSA politicizes the impacts of a government closure on security operations,” the county executive stated, noting that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.”

DHS Response

A Department of Homeland Security official, an agency representative, echoed the Secretary's language to blame “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democrats will soon recognize the significance of reopening the federal government.”

Bipartisan Appeals for Solution

The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to end the federal closure” and was working to find methods to assist government workers unpaid during the shutdown.