DHS Buys $172M Jets for Secretary Noem Amid Government Shutdown Criticism

The Department of Homeland Security, under Secretary Kristi Noem, has purchased two used Gulfstream G700 private jets for over $172 million, sparking significant criticism from Democrats and others who accuse Noem of extravagant spending amid a government shutdown that furloughed many federal workers. The jets were described by Gulfstream as having the most spacious cabins in the industry, and DHS officials justified the purchase on safety grounds, noting the existing jet was over 20 years old and beyond operational usage. The Coast Guard had earlier requested a single Gulfstream V jet costing about $50 million to replace an aging aircraft used by Noem. Critics, including congressional Democrats Rick Larsen, Rosa DeLauro, and Lauren Underwood, have questioned the timing and funding source of the purchase, calling it an example of lavish spending at taxpayer expense during a period of fiscal restraint. DHS officials have not clarified why two jets were purchased instead of one, or how the deal expanded from the Coast Guard’s initial request. The controversy adds to past scrutiny of Noem's spending habits and leadership at DHS.