Homeland Security Seeks $50M Jet for Noem, Coast Guard Officials

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has requested about $50 million from the Coast Guard’s 2025 budget to purchase a new long-range Gulfstream jet, primarily for Secretary Kristi Noem and other top DHS and Coast Guard officials. The existing Gulfstream, over 20 years old, is considered obsolete with unreliable communications and outdated avionics, prompting DHS officials to defend the purchase as necessary for secure, reliable transportation and communication. However, the last-minute budget addition has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Lauren Underwood, who called it a waste of taxpayer money and highlighted that Noem already has a Gulfstream jet. DHS maintains that the acquisition is about safety and fleet modernization, comparable to the aging condition of Coast Guard ships and other assets. The controversy comes amid President Trump’s consideration of accepting a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift, adding to scrutiny over high-cost aircraft acquisitions within the administration. The current fleet includes two modified Gulfstream jets used by senior officials, and the 2020 jet cost around $66 million, providing context for the estimated price of the proposed new aircraft.