Arizona Airports Refuse to Play DHS Secretary's Shutdown Video

Arizona's major airports are not displaying a video from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that the White House claimed would be shown at "every public airport in America." 

The video blames Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown, but Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, and Tucson International Airport all confirmed they are not airing it.

The airports cited their standard policies prohibiting political advertising as the reason for declining to play the video. Phoenix Sky Harbor and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway both have long-standing rules against displaying content that focuses on political speech. 

Tucson International Airport went further, noting that not only does it ban political advertisements from any source, including the government, but it also lacks screens in the area where the Department of Homeland Security requested the video be displayed.

The situation raises questions about the White House's claim that the video would reach every airport nationwide. Other airports across the country have made similar statements, contradicting the administration's assertion about the video's widespread distribution.

Representative Yassamin Ansari took to social media to emphasize that “Phoenix got it right. Sky Harbor won't air Kristi Noem's propaganda blaming Democrats for Trump's shutdown.”

“Every airport should follow suit. The whole stunt is embarrassing,” she continued. 

Legal Concerns

Some officials and legal experts worry it may violate the Hatch Act, a federal law that prohibits executive branch employees from using their official authority to engage in political activities. 

The law exists to ensure that federal programs are administered fairly and without partisan influence, protect federal employees from political pressure, and guarantee that promotions are based on merit rather than politics. 

Under the Hatch Act, federal employees are restricted from engaging in political activity while on duty, using government vehicles, or wearing uniforms during political work.

When the AZ Mirror asked the Department of Homeland Security whether Secretary Noem was aware of airports' political advertising policies, the agency responded with a quote from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin that closely mirrored what Noem said in the video itself.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport plays a particularly significant role in the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts, as they host the hub for Immigration and Customs Enforcement's "ICE Air" operations, which handles deportations and immigration transport across the country. 

The fact that even this airport refused to air the video underscores the broader pushback against displaying the shutdown message at public facilities and will continue to stir controversies.