US Air Hubs Refuse Homeland Security PSA Faulting Democrats for Government Shutdown

Several prominent global air travel hubs across the America, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have chosen to restrict a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the continuing federal government shutdown from being shown at their security checkpoints.

Legal Concerns Cited by Airport Authorities

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester County have declined to broadcast the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could breach state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids government workers from engaging in partisan actions.

“Democratic legislators decline to support funding for the federal government, and because of this, many of our activities are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are working without pay,” the Secretary said in the video.

Portland Response

The Portland airport authority noted that it “did not consent to displaying the video in its current form, as we consider the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for political aims.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that consenting to play this video would break state law.

Harry Reid International Position

Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to show the TSA video on similar grounds, saying in a statement that “the video's message contained partisan statements that did not align with the impartial, educational purpose of the public service announcements usually shown at checkpoint screens” and also cited the Hatch Act.

Understanding the Hatch Act

The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that prohibits political activities by federal employees to guarantee that government programs remain unbiased.

Additional Authority Responses

• Phoenix airport airport stated that it “declined to display the PSA” to stay “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material.
• The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, also refused, pointing to “the political nature of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not permit the video in question.” The authority also added that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its checkpoints and that its limited display monitors are designated for wayfinding, flight updates, and paid advertisements.

Westchester County Criticism

The county, in a public comment, described the video “unacceptable, unacceptable, and out of line with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”

“The public service announcement makes political the impacts of a federal government shutdown on security operations,” the county executive said, noting that the tone was “overly alarming” and “erodes public trust.”

DHS Response

A DHS official, an agency representative, echoed the Secretary's language to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, adding that “Democrats will soon recognize the significance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Solution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was working to find methods to support federal employees working without pay during the closure.