🔗 Share this article US Air Hubs Refuse Homeland Security PSA Faulting Democratic Party for Federal Closure Several major global air travel hubs across the United States, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have chosen to restrict a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the continuing government closure from playing at their checkpoint areas. Legal Concerns Cited by Aviation Officials Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester County have declined to show the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could breach federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids government workers from participating in partisan political activity. “Democratic legislators decline to finance the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration employees are not receiving wages,” Noem stated in the announcement. Portland Response The Portland airport authority explained that it “did not consent to playing the video in its present version, as we consider the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for partisan messaging.” It added that Oregon law bars government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to broadcast this content would violate Oregon law. Las Vegas Position Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the security announcement on similar grounds, stating in a release that “the video's message contained political messaging that did not align with the neutral, educational purpose of the PSAs usually shown at security checkpoints” and also referenced the federal act. Explaining the Hatch Act Regulations The Hatch Act of 1939 is a federal law that bans partisan actions by government employees to ensure that government programs remain impartial. Further Authority Responses Phoenix Sky Harbor airport explained that it “declined to post the PSA” to stay “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits political content. The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, also declined, pointing to “the political nature of the content.” Charlotte airport said that North Carolina municipal law and the airport's rules for digital content “do not permit the video in question.” The authority also added that the TSA does not own any screens at its checkpoints and that its limited digital screens are designated for directions, travel information, and revenue-generating services. Westchester Objection Westchester County, in a public comment, called the PSA “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the standards we expect from our nation’s top public officials.” “The PSA makes political the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes customer confidence.” Homeland Security Response A DHS official, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s wording to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will shortly realize the importance of reopening the government.” Bipartisan Calls for Resolution The Port of Seattle commented that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was working to identify methods to support federal employees unpaid during the shutdown.