Kristi Noem hands out 'fake' checks to TSA agents

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday handed out fake “checks” Saturday during a press conference at Harry Reid International Airport, the Daily Beast reports.

Noem was purportedly giving $10,000 bonuses to 29 TSA agents who worked without pay during the government shutdown. As the Beast reports, the TSA bonuses, “like the bonuses given to air traffic controllers … were only offered to certain employees.”

“Let’s hand out some checks, should we?” Noem asked before immediately clarifying she wasn’t handing out real checks.

“Now, I will say, this is a document that verifies it will be direct deposited into your accounts, OK?” She added.

“Noem also announced that the department will be giving bonus checks to many [transportation security officers] across the country for ‘doing their job with excellence,’ by not just showing up for their shifts during the government shutdown, but also taking extra shifts and extra responsibilities, as well as going above and beyond to serve those in their communities and help fellow employees,” CBS News reports.