🔗 Share this article US Airports Block Homeland Security Video Blaming Democratic Party for Federal Closure A number of prominent global airports across the America, among them Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have decided to block a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democrats for the continuing federal government shutdown from being shown at their security checkpoints. Regulatory Issues Raised by Airport Authorities Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have refused to broadcast the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could violate state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act, which bars government workers from engaging in partisan actions. “Democratic legislators refuse to finance the U.S. government, and because of this, many of our operations are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are working without pay,” the Secretary stated in the announcement. The Port of Portland Reaction The Portland airport authority noted that it “did not consent to playing the video in its current form, as we maintain the federal law explicitly forbids use of public assets for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars public employees from supporting or criticizing any political party and that consenting to play this video would violate Oregon law. Las Vegas Statement The Harry Reid airport also declined to display the security announcement on similar grounds, stating in a release 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. Explaining the Hatch Act The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that bans political activities by government employees to guarantee that government programs remain impartial. Further Airport Responses Phoenix airport airport explained that it “declined to display the PSA” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow political content. The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly declined, citing “the partisan tone of the content.” Charlotte Douglas International Airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport's rules for digital 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 wayfinding, travel information, and paid advertisements. Westchester County Objection The county, in a public comment, called 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 effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county leader stated, adding that the message was “overly alarming” and “undermines public trust.” Homeland Security Response A DHS official, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s language to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a statement, adding that “Democrats will shortly recognize the importance of opening the government.” Bipartisan Calls for Solution The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to end the government shutdown” and was striving to identify ways to assist federal employees unpaid during the closure.