A pair of luxury Gulfstream jets purchased for Secretary Kristi Noem and senior Homeland Security officials are raising eyebrows in Washington, not just for the price tag but for what they seem to represent.

Kristi Noem’s $172 Million Gulfstream Acquisition: Homeland Security’s Latest “Safety” Upgrade

According to documents reviewed by The New York Times, the Department of Homeland Security has signed a $172 million contract with Gulfstream for two G700 private jets, aircraft marketed for their “most spacious cabin in the industry.” Officials say the planes are necessary for “safety” and “secure, reliable, on-demand communications,” but the purchase goes well beyond the department’s initial budget request for a single replacement jet.

The Coast Guard had previously sought $50 million to replace an aging Gulfstream V used for official travel, calling the older aircraft “increasingly obsolete” even though it was well-maintained and fully operational. Yet DHS ultimately settled on two top-of-the-line G700s, costing roughly three times that amount. Lawmakers are now asking how and why the scope expanded.

In a letter to Secretary Noem, senior House Democrats questioned the funding source and accused her of prioritizing “comfort above operational needs,”  a sharp rebuke during a government shutdown that has affected Coast Guard pay and operations (you can read the letter here). DHS insists the purchase was a matter of safety, citing the age and usage hours of its existing jet.

Ms. Noem, who personally approves any departmental expense above $100,000, has faced repeated criticism for her own spending. Earlier this year she stayed rent-free at a waterfront residence reserved for the Coast Guard commandant, citing security concerns, and frequently used the agency’s private jet for personal travel (reimbursing the Coast Guard for that expense only when called out by overnemtn watchdogs).

Before arriving in Washington, Noem made headlines in South Dakota for redecorating the governor’s mansion with $68,000 in taxpayer funds, including a sauna,  and for billing the state around $150,000 for political and personal trips, including a Paris speech on behalf of President Trump and a bear hunt in Canada.

CONCLUSION

Government air travel has always been an easy target for criticism, and I’ve called out the use of private jets on both sides of the aisle. Even so, this incident strikes me as problematic. Two Gulfstream G700s aren’t just tools of convenience; they’re symbols of detachment. When the agency charged with border security is flying brand-new luxury jets while the Coast Guard struggles to make payroll, justifications based on“safety” ring hollow. The planes may well be useful, even necessary. The timing and scale are the problem.

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