Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks with Sen. Joni Ernst during Ernst’s annual Roast and Ride fundraiser on Oct. 11, 2025, at Big Barn Harley Davidson in Des Moines.
The Department of Homeland Security has quietly purchased two Gulfstream private jets for Secretary Kristi Noem and other senior officials — a deal that cost taxpayers $172 million and is already stirring backlash in Washington.
The Old Jets Were Obsolete
A Gulfstream G600 during the Gulfstream Discover the Difference event on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at the Gulfstream Research and Development facility in Savannah, Ga..
Documents reviewed by The New York Times show that the Coast Guard, which operates under DHS, signed a contract with Gulfstream for two used G700 aircraft — planes the manufacturer touts as having the “most spacious cabin in the industry.” The purchase, finalized in recent weeks, far exceeds the Coast Guard’s earlier request for a single $50 million jet to replace its aging Gulfstream V. At a May hearing, acting Coast Guard Commandant Kevin Lunday said the agency’s current aircraft was “increasingly obsolete,” with unreliable communications and outdated avionics. A new jet, he told lawmakers, would ensure “secure, reliable, on-demand communications” for department leadership during inspections and crisis response.
Lawmakers Say Noem Is Prioritizing Comfort
The decision to buy two high-end luxury jets — and at triple the projected cost — has drawn sharp scrutiny. Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Representative Lauren Underwood of Illinois, both senior Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, sent a letter demanding clarity on how the department funded the expanded purchase. “In addition to raising serious questions about your ability to effectively lead an agency whose procurement strategies appear to vary on a whim,” they wrote, “the procurement of new luxury jets for your use suggests that the Coast Guard has been directed to prioritize your own comfort above its operational needs, even during a government shutdown.”
Some DHS Funding Will Go To Furloughed Servicemembers
A DHS spokesperson defended their purchase in a statement, calling it a “matter of safety.” The existing aircraft, they said, was more than 20 years old and “well beyond operational usage hours for a corporate aircraft.” The agency declined to explain why it doubled its initial request or where the additional funding came from. Republicans in Congress had recently included roughly $25 billion in new Coast Guard funding as part of a broader domestic spending package, with $2.3 billion earmarked for aircraft procurement. Noem has said that some of those funds were redirected to ensure service members continued to be paid during the government shutdown.
Noem Is Often Questioned About Her Use Of Funds
The optics of the purchase are difficult to ignore. Noem has already faced questions about her use of government housing and travel perks. Earlier this year, The Washington Post reported that she had been staying rent-free in the waterfront home reserved for the Coast Guard commandant — a claim her office said was for “security reasons” following threats. She has since reimbursed the government for “tens of thousands of dollars” in personal travel.
Expensive Taste
Noem’s reputation for lavish spending long predates her role in Washington. As South Dakota governor, she reportedly spent $68,000 redecorating the governor’s mansion, complete with chandeliers, rugs, and a sauna. And in 2023, The Associated Press found that taxpayers covered roughly $150,000 of her personal and political travel — including campaign events, a trip to Paris, and even a bear hunt in Canada.
