🔗 Share this article US Airports Refuse Kristi Noem PSA Faulting Democrats for Government Shutdown A number of prominent international airports across the United States, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have decided to restrict a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the continuing federal government shutdown from airing at their security checkpoints. Legal Issues Cited by Airport Officials Airport officials in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester County have declined to broadcast the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the clearly partisan content could contravene state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity. “Democratic legislators decline to support funding for the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our functions are affected, and most of our TSA staff are not receiving wages,” Noem remarked in the announcement. Portland Response The Port of Portland noted that it “did not consent to airing the video in its present version, as we believe the federal law explicitly forbids use of public assets for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon prohibits government staff from promoting or opposing any political party and that consenting to broadcast this video would break Oregon law. Las Vegas Position Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport also refused to show the security announcement on comparable reasons, stating in a release that “the video's message contained partisan statements that was inconsistent with the neutral, educational purpose of the PSAs typically shown at security checkpoints” and also referenced the federal act. Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that bans partisan actions by federal employees to guarantee that government programs stay non-partisan. Further Airport Responses Phoenix airport airport stated that it “declined to display the PSA” to remain “consistent with airport guidelines,” which does not allow partisan material. The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly declined, citing “the partisan tone of the video.” Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that state municipal law and the airport's rules for digital content “do not allow the referenced video.” The airport also added that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its checkpoints and that its limited digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and paid advertisements. Westchester Criticism The county, in a statement, called the video “inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the standards we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.” “The public service announcement makes political the effects of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive said, adding that the message was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.” DHS Reply A DHS assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated Noem’s language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a statement, stating that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the significance of reopening the government.” Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “encourage bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was striving to find ways to support federal employees working without pay during the closure.