US Air Hubs Block Homeland Security Video Faulting Democratic Party for Government Shutdown
Several prominent global air travel hubs across the United States, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas in NC, have decided to block a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the current government closure from airing at their checkpoint areas.
Legal Concerns Cited by Aviation Officials
Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have declined to show the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could contravene state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political campaigning.
“Democrats in Congress decline to support funding for the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are disrupted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are working without pay,” Noem said in the video.
The Port of Portland Reaction
The Port of Portland explained that it “would not agree to displaying the video in its present version, as we maintain the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political aims.” It added that state regulations in Oregon prohibits government staff from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to play this video would break state law.
Las Vegas Statement
The Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, stating in a release that “the video's message included partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, informational nature of the PSAs usually displayed at checkpoint screens” and also referenced the federal act.
Explaining the Hatch Act
The Hatch Act is a federal law that forbids political activities by federal employees to ensure that public services stay unbiased.
Further Airport Rejections
- Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “declined to display the video” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow partisan material.
- The Port of Seattle, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, citing “the partisan tone of the video.”
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that state local regulations and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not permit the referenced video.” The airport also noted that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its checkpoints and that its few display monitors are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.
Westchester County Objection
Westchester County, in a public comment, called the PSA “unacceptable, unacceptable, and out of line with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.”
“The PSA politicizes the effects of a government closure on security operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.”
Homeland Security Reply
A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s language to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, stating that “Democrats will soon recognize the significance of reopening the government.”
Cross-Party Calls for Resolution
The Seattle authority said that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was striving to find methods to support government workers unpaid during the closure.
