🔗 Share this article American Airports Block Kristi Noem Video Blaming Democratic Party for Federal Closure A number of prominent international airports across the America, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas in North Carolina, have decided to restrict a video from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem that faults Democratic lawmakers for the current federal government shutdown from airing at their security checkpoints. Regulatory Concerns Raised by Aviation Authorities Airport officials in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Washington, Portland, Charlotte, and Westchester County have refused to broadcast the footage at security checkpoints, stating that the political statements could contravene federal and state regulations, including the Hatch Act of 1939, which forbids government workers from participating in partisan actions. “Democrats in Congress decline to support funding for the federal government, and as a result, many of our activities are affected, and most of our Transportation Security Administration staff are unpaid,” Noem remarked in the video. The Port of Portland Reaction The Port of Portland explained that it “would not agree to airing the video in its current form, as we believe the federal law explicitly forbids use of public assets for political purposes.” The port further stated that Oregon law bars government staff from promoting or opposing any party affiliation and that consenting to broadcast this video would violate state law. Harry Reid International Statement The Harry Reid airport also refused to display the security announcement on similar grounds, noting in a statement that “its content included partisan statements that did not align with the impartial, educational nature of the public service announcements typically displayed at security checkpoints” and also referenced the Hatch Act. Understanding the Hatch Act The Hatch Act of 1939 is a U.S. law that forbids partisan actions by federal employees to guarantee that public services remain unbiased. Additional Authority Responses Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport explained that it “refused to display the video” to stay “consistent with airport guidelines,” which prohibits political content. The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, similarly declined, pointing to “the partisan tone of the content.” Charlotte airport said that state municipal law and the airport’s policy for screen content “do not allow the video in question.” The airport also noted that the Transportation Security Administration lacks ownership of any screens at its security areas and that its limited digital screens are reserved for wayfinding, flight updates, and revenue-generating services. Westchester Criticism The county, in a statement, described the PSA “inappropriate, improper, and out of line with the standards we anticipate from our federal leaders.” “The PSA politicizes the impacts of a government closure on TSA operations,” the county executive said, adding that the tone was “unnecessarily alarmist” and “erodes customer confidence.” DHS Response A Department of Homeland Security official, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s language to blame “political gamesmanship” in a statement, adding that “Democrats will soon realize the significance of reopening the federal government.” Cross-Party Appeals for Solution The Port of Seattle said that it continued to “encourage cooperative actions to resolve the government shutdown” and was working to find methods to support government workers unpaid during the shutdown.