🔗 Share this article American Airports Block Homeland Security PSA Blaming Democratic Party for Government Shutdown A number of key international airports across the America, such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle–Tacoma, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have decided to prevent a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that faults Democrats for the ongoing government closure from airing at their screening locations. Regulatory Issues Cited by Aviation Officials Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, and Westchester, New York have declined to broadcast the footage at screening areas, stating that the clearly partisan content could breach state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which forbids government workers from engaging in partisan political activity. “Democratic legislators refuse to support funding for the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are unpaid,” Noem said in the announcement. The Port of Portland Response The Portland airport authority noted that it “did not consent to airing the video in its current form, as we believe the federal law explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for political purposes.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars public employees from promoting or opposing any political party and that agreeing to play this video would violate state law. Harry Reid International Statement Las Vegas's Harry Reid airport also refused to display the TSA video on comparable reasons, noting in a release that “the video's message included partisan statements that did not align with the neutral, educational purpose of the public service announcements usually shown at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act. Explaining the Hatch Act The Hatch Act is a federal law that prohibits partisan actions by federal employees to ensure that government programs stay non-partisan. Further Airport Responses Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “refused to post the PSA” to remain “in line with airport guidelines,” which does not allow political content. The Seattle port authority, which manages Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.” Charlotte airport said that North Carolina local regulations and the airport's rules for digital content “do not allow the referenced video.” The authority also noted that the TSA does not own any screens at its security areas and that its few digital screens are designated for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services. Westchester Objection Westchester County, in a public comment, called the video “inappropriate, improper, and inconsistent with the standards we anticipate from our nation’s top public officials.” “The public service announcement makes political the effects of a federal government shutdown on TSA operations,” the county leader said, adding that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes public trust.” Homeland Security Response A DHS assistant secretary, an agency representative, repeated Noem’s wording to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a statement, adding that “Democratic leaders will soon realize the significance of opening the federal government.” Cross-Party Appeals for Resolution The Seattle authority commented that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the federal closure” and was working to identify methods to assist federal employees unpaid during the closure.