🔗 Share this article US Airports Refuse Homeland Security Video Faulting Democrats for Government Shutdown Several key international air travel hubs across the United States, among them Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have opted to block a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the continuing government closure from playing at their screening locations. Legal Concerns Raised by Airport Officials Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to broadcast the video content at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act, which bars federal employees from participating in political campaigning. “Democratic legislators refuse to support funding for the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our functions are disrupted, and most of our TSA workers are not receiving wages,” the Secretary stated in the announcement. The Port of Portland Response The Portland airport authority noted that it “would not agree to playing the PSA in its current form, as we consider the federal law explicitly forbids use of public assets for political purposes.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars government staff from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this content would break Oregon law. Las Vegas Position Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the TSA video on similar grounds, noting in a statement that “its content included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational nature of the PSAs typically shown at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act. Understanding the Hatch Act The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that forbids partisan actions by government employees to ensure that government programs remain unbiased. Additional Airport Rejections Phoenix airport international airport stated that it “refused to post the video” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content. The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, also declined, citing “the partisan tone of the video.” Charlotte airport clarified that state local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its security areas and that its limited digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and revenue-generating services. Westchester Objection The county, in a public comment, described the video “inappropriate, unacceptable, and out of line with the standards we expect from our nation’s top public officials.” “The public service announcement politicizes the impacts of a government closure on security operations,” the county executive stated, adding that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.” DHS Response A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's language to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the importance of reopening the federal government.” Bipartisan Appeals for Solution The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to find ways to assist federal employees working without pay during the closure.