DHS head Markwayne Mullin says there is not a threat to the U.S. amid FAA ground stop

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin spoke to at the White House on Friday afternoon after the FAA issues a total ground stop. NPR was there for the briefing.

Travelers across the country are now stranded in airports and sitting on runways after the FAA issued a total ground stop this afternoon. There are very few details about why Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made that call. All we know at this time is that it's being attributed to communication difficulties. Here is Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin speaking at the White House just a few minutes ago.

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: We're getting a ton of calls saying, is this a terrorist attack? Is this a terrorist attack? Everybody's safe. There is no reason to be concerned about your loved ones, if they're flying or anything like that. I just want to make sure everybody's at ease about that.

PFEIFFER: NPR White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram was there listening to Mullin when he talked to reporters, and she's with us now. Deepa, what can you tell us about what's going on?

DEEPA SHIVARAM, BYLINE: Yeah. So this all happened in the span of the last 30 minutes, I would say. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin came out to brief reporters just outside the White House, and he started off by saying that there is not a threat to the U.S., and they believe that this whole situation boils down to a telecommunications issue.

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