🔗 Share this article US Air Hubs Reject Kristi Noem PSA Blaming Democrats for Government Shutdown Several key global air travel hubs across the US, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Las Vegas's Harry Reid Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in NC, have opted to restrict a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democratic lawmakers for the current federal government shutdown from playing at their screening locations. Regulatory Issues Raised by Aviation Authorities Airport authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have declined to display the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the overtly political messaging could contravene state and federal law, including the Hatch Act, which forbids government workers from engaging in partisan actions. “Democratic legislators decline to fund the federal government, and because of this, many of our operations are impacted, and most of our Transportation Security Administration workers are working without pay,” the Secretary said in the video. Portland Response The Port of Portland explained that it “did not consent to airing the PSA in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act explicitly forbids utilization of government resources for partisan messaging.” The port further stated that state regulations in Oregon bars government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to play this video would break state law. Harry Reid International Statement The Harry Reid airport also declined to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, stating in a statement that “the video's message contained political messaging that did not align with the impartial, informational nature of the PSAs usually displayed at security checkpoints” and also cited the federal act. Understanding the Hatch Act The Hatch Act is a U.S. law that bans partisan actions by government employees to ensure that public services remain non-partisan. Additional Airport Rejections Phoenix airport international airport stated that it “declined to post the video” to stay “consistent with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material. The Seattle port authority, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly refused, pointing to “the partisan tone of the video.” Charlotte Douglas International Airport clarified that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for digital content “do not permit the video in question.” The airport also added that the TSA lacks ownership of any monitors at its security areas and that its limited digital screens are designated for wayfinding, travel information, and revenue-generating services. Westchester County Objection Westchester County, in a statement, described the video “unacceptable, improper, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our federal leaders.” “The PSA makes political the effects of a government closure on security operations,” the county executive said, adding that the message was “overly alarming” and “undermines customer confidence.” DHS Reply A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, repeated the Secretary's language to attribute fault to “partisan tactics” in a response, adding that “Democrats will soon realize the importance of reopening the government.” Cross-Party Calls for Solution The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to resolve the federal closure” and was working to find methods to assist government workers working without pay during the shutdown.