Ralph Norman, U.S. Congressman representing South Carolina’s 5th district since 2017, posted a series of statements on X (formerly Twitter) in mid-October 2025 criticizing Democratic lawmakers over the federal government shutdown and its impact on federal employees and military personnel.
On October 15, 2025, Norman wrote, “Democrats shut down the government for illegal aliens then got angry when President Trump made sure our troops got paid. Tells you everything you need to know about their priorities.”
Later that day, Norman continued his criticism in another post: “Democrats shut down the government and now they’re mad the public’s being told the truth about it. If TSA workers are missing paychecks, Americans deserve to know who’s to blame. SC airports should NOT bow to the radical left.”
On October 16, 2025, Norman shared a third post containing only a link: “https://t.co/ZEHqotp0zm”
Norman’s remarks come amid ongoing debate in Congress over federal funding and border security. Government shutdowns have historically resulted in the suspension of non-essential federal services and delayed pay for many federal employees, including military personnel and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers.
Ralph Norman has represented South Carolina’s 5th District in Congress since 2017, after previously serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2005 to 2017. He was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina in 1953 and is an alumnus of Presbyterian College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975.
