US Airports Reject Homeland Security PSA Blaming Democratic Party for Government Shutdown

A number of major 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 NC, have chosen to block a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that blames Democratic lawmakers for the ongoing government closure from airing at their checkpoint areas.

Legal Concerns Cited by Aviation Officials

Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have refused to show the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the overtly political messaging could breach state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which forbids government workers from engaging in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats decline to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are working without pay,” Noem said in the announcement.

Portland Response

The Port of Portland clarified that it “would not agree to playing the PSA in its present version, as we believe the federal law explicitly forbids use of public assets for political aims.” It added that Oregon law bars public employees from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that agreeing to broadcast this video would violate state law.

Harry Reid International Statement

The Harry Reid International Airport also refused to display the TSA video on comparable reasons, saying in a release that “its content contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, educational nature of the public service announcements usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

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

Additional Airport Rejections

• Phoenix airport airport explained that it “declined to post the video” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which prohibits political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, similarly declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state municipal law and the airport's rules for screen content “do not allow the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any monitors at its checkpoints and that its limited digital screens are designated for directions, travel information, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester County Criticism

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

“The PSA makes political 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.”

DHS Response

A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s language to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a response, stating that “Democrats will shortly recognize the importance of reopening the government.”

Cross-Party Appeals for Solution

The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was working to find ways to support federal employees unpaid during the closure.