Kristi Noem made fun of after admitting the Photo-Op TSA bonus checks were fake

Noem traveled to Harry Reid International Airport on Saturday, where she unveiled a $10,000 bonus initiative for select TSA employees. The initiative mirrored a similar bonus rollout announced days earlier for air traffic controllers who worked without pay during the recent 43-day government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history. But the event quickly attracted attention when Noem tried to do so organize a ceremonial check presentation that she immediately gave in was symbolic.

After announcing the bonuses – which were only available to certain employees, and not to all staff affected by the closure – Noem tried to organize a celebratory distribution. “Let’s give out some checks, okay?” she said. Moments later, she clarified that the documents were not checks at all.

“This is a document that verifies it will be deposited directly into your accounts, okay?” she told the 29 TSA employees standing behind her as she handed out the papers on camera.

During the event, Noem also announced that the Department of Homeland Security will invest more than $1 billion to modernize security checkpoints at airports across the country, including expanded training for frontline personnel.

“We know it is our responsibility to not only keep travelers safe, but also to ensure we get them to their locations safely and in a way that is comfortable and enjoyable for them and their families,” she said.