US Air Hubs Block Kristi Noem PSA Blaming Democratic Party for Federal Closure

A number of major international air travel hubs across the United States, including Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have decided to block a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the current federal government shutdown from playing at their checkpoint areas.

Regulatory Concerns Cited by Aviation Authorities

Aviation administrators in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have refused to show the video content at screening areas, stating that the overtly political messaging could violate state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan actions.

“Congressional Democrats decline to support funding for the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are affected, and most of our TSA employees are unpaid,” Noem remarked in the announcement.

The Port of Portland Response

The Portland airport authority clarified that it “did not consent to airing the PSA in its present version, as we believe the Hatch Act explicitly forbids 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 content would violate Oregon law.

Harry Reid International Statement

Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also refused to show the TSA video on comparable reasons, noting in a statement that “its content contained partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational nature of the PSAs usually shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act.

Understanding the Hatch Act Regulations

The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that prohibits partisan actions by government employees to guarantee that public services stay unbiased.

Additional Authority Responses

• Phoenix airport international airport stated that it “declined to post the video” to remain “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits political content.
• The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly declined, citing “the partisan tone of the content.”
• Charlotte airport clarified that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The authority also added that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its checkpoints and that its few digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services.

Westchester Objection

Westchester County, in a statement, called the video “unacceptable, improper, and out of line with the values we anticipate from our federal leaders.”

“The public service announcement makes political the impacts of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county leader stated, noting that the tone was “overly alarming” and “erodes public trust.”

DHS Response

A DHS assistant secretary, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s language to attribute fault to “political gamesmanship” in a response, adding that “Democrats will soon recognize the importance of reopening the federal government.”

Cross-Party Calls for Solution

The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to identify ways to assist federal employees working without pay during the shutdown.