🔗 Share this article US Airports Block Homeland Security PSA Faulting Democratic Party for Government Shutdown A number of prominent international airports across the US, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have chosen to restrict a public service announcement from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democratic lawmakers for the current government closure from playing at their checkpoint areas. Regulatory Concerns Cited by Aviation Officials Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester County have declined to show the video content at screening areas, stating that the political statements could violate federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act, which forbids federal employees from engaging in partisan actions. “Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our functions are disrupted, and most of our TSA staff are working without pay,” Noem said in the video. Portland Reaction The Portland airport authority explained that it “would not agree to playing the video in its current form, as we maintain the Hatch Act clearly prohibits use of public assets for political purposes.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars public employees from supporting or criticizing any political party and that consenting to broadcast this video would violate Oregon law. Harry Reid International Position Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also declined to display the TSA video on similar grounds, saying in a release that “the video's message included partisan statements that did not align with the impartial, informational nature of the public service announcements usually displayed at security checkpoints” and also referenced the federal act. Understanding 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 stay unbiased. Additional Airport Rejections Phoenix Sky Harbor airport stated that it “declined to display the video” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which prohibits partisan material. The Seattle port authority, which manages Sea-Tac airport, also refused, citing “the partisan tone of the content.” Charlotte airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration does not own any screens at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, travel information, and revenue-generating services. Westchester County Criticism Westchester County, in a public comment, called the PSA “inappropriate, improper, and out of line with the values we expect from our nation’s top public officials.” “The PSA makes political the impacts of a government closure on security operations,” the county leader stated, adding that the message was “overly alarming” and “erodes public trust.” Homeland Security Response A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed the Secretary's language to blame “partisan tactics” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will shortly realize the significance of opening the federal government.” Cross-Party Appeals for Solution The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “urge cooperative actions to resolve the federal closure” and was working to identify ways to support government workers working without pay during the closure.