🔗 Share this article US Air Hubs Block Kristi Noem PSA Blaming Democratic Party for Government Shutdown Several major global airports across the United States, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Harry Reid International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina, have chosen to prevent a public service announcement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that attributes responsibility to Democratic lawmakers for the continuing government closure from airing at their screening locations. Regulatory Issues Cited by Aviation Officials Airport authorities in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nevada, Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Westchester, New York have declined to show the video content at security checkpoints, stating that the political statements could violate state and federal law, such as the Hatch Act, which forbids federal employees from engaging in partisan actions. “Democratic legislators decline to finance the U.S. government, and as a result, many of our activities are disrupted, and most of our TSA staff are unpaid,” Noem stated in the announcement. The Port of Portland Response The Port of Portland noted that it “would not agree to playing the PSA in its current form, as we believe the Hatch Act explicitly forbids use of public assets for political purposes.” It added that state regulations in Oregon prohibits public employees from supporting or criticizing any political party and that agreeing to broadcast this video would violate state law. Harry Reid International Position The Harry Reid International Airport also declined to display the security announcement on comparable reasons, saying in a release that “its content contained partisan statements that was inconsistent with the impartial, educational nature of the public service announcements typically displayed at security checkpoints” and also referenced the Hatch Act. Explaining the Hatch Act Regulations The Hatch Act is a federal law that forbids political activities by federal employees to ensure that public services stay impartial. Further Authority Responses Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport stated that it “declined to display the video” to remain “in line with airport policy,” which does not allow partisan material. The Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac airport, also declined, pointing to “the political nature of the content.” Charlotte airport said that North Carolina 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 monitors at its security areas and that its few digital screens are reserved for directions, flight updates, and revenue-generating services. Westchester Objection The county, in a public comment, called the video “inappropriate, unacceptable, and out of line with the values 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 executive stated, adding that the message was “overly alarming” and “undermines customer confidence.” Homeland Security Response A Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, echoed Noem’s wording to blame “political gamesmanship” in a response, stating that “Democratic leaders will soon realize the importance of opening the government.” Bipartisan Appeals for Resolution The Seattle authority said that it continued to “urge bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown” and was striving to identify ways to assist government workers working without pay during the closure.