[Global Network Reporter Li Ziyu] According to reports by the British "Independent" and other media on the 18th local time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security spent approximately US$172 million to purchase two "Gulfstream G700" luxury aircraft for Minister Christy Nome and other senior officials. Against the backdrop of the continued "shutdown" of the U.S. federal government, the move raised questions, with Democratic lawmakers criticizing Noam for "extravagant spending" and demanding that he clarify the source of funding.

According to the New York Times, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the department purchased the aircraft for ¡°security reasons.¡±The aircraft had been advertised by Gulfstream as having ¡°the most spacious cabin in the industry.¡±The spokesman added that the existing aircraft of the Department of Homeland Security has been more than 20 years old, ¡°far beyond the operational life of official aircraft.¡±

According to the Independent, Democratic lawmakers have criticized the move as another example of Norman¡¯s wasted money at the expense of taxpayers, especially during the federal government¡¯s ¡°stop¡±.

The report said that a letter reviewed by The New York Times showed that U.S. Congressman Rosa DeLauro, Democrat of Connecticut, and U.S. Congressman Lauren Underwood, Democrat of Illinois, asked Nome to "clarify the source of funding." "We are deeply concerned about your (Noam) judgment, leadership priorities and responsibilities as a manager of taxpayer funds," they said in the letter.

The U.S. Senate voted on the provisional appropriations bill for the tenth time on October 16, but the bill still failed to pass. The U.S. federal government's "shutdown" has entered its third week, and many public services have stalled. The U.S. economic and social operations are suffering an impact. According to US media reports, the Trump administration has frozen or canceled funding for hundreds of projects across the United States since the shutdown, totaling at least $28 billion. Under the shadow of the closure of some public institutions and the forced suspension of federal employees, people's lives have been affected, and anger and dissatisfaction have further intensified. On October 18, local time, large-scale protests broke out across the United States, expressing dissatisfaction with the current government's legislation, immigration, medical insurance and other policies.