By The Midtown Times Staff, adapted from reporting by Catie Edmondson, The New York Times
WASHINGTON — According to an exclusive report by The New York Times, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has quietly approved the purchase of two Gulfstream G700 private jets for Secretary Kristi Noem and other senior officials, at a staggering cost of $172 million. The acquisition, made through the U.S. Coast Guard, has sparked bipartisan concern over spending priorities within one of the nation’s most critical security agencies.
The new jets, billed by Gulfstream as featuring “the most spacious cabin in the industry,” were added to the DHS procurement budget despite the Coast Guard’s original request for just one aircraft to replace an aging model. Documents reviewed by The Times show that the DHS expanded the contract, authorizing the purchase of two “used” G700S, each with a multimillion-dollar price tag.
A Question of Priorities
A DHS spokesperson defended the purchase as a “matter of safety,” citing the existing aircraft’s age and outdated communications systems. The agency’s current long-range jet, used for departmental travel, is more than 20 years old and “well beyond operational use hours,” according to internal correspondence.
Still, the justification has not quelled criticism from lawmakers. In a letter obtained by The New York Times, Democratic Representatives Rosa DeLauro (Conn.) and Lauren Underwood (Ill.) demanded that Secretary Noem “clarify the funding source” for the unexpected acquisition.
“The procurement of luxury jets for your use suggests that the Coast Guard has been directed to prioritize your comfort over operational needs — even during a government shutdown,” the lawmakers wrote.
They further questioned Noem’s “judgment, leadership priorities, and responsibility as a steward of taxpayer dollars.”
Funding Trail Raises Questions
The purchase appears to have drawn funds from a $25 billion Coast Guard budget boost included in this year’s Republican-led spending package, legislation that also contained $2.3 billion for new aircraft procurement. Noem, who has publicly vowed to ensure Coast Guard personnel are paid during the ongoing federal shutdown, now faces accusations of redirecting funds to cover the aircraft deal instead.
Personal Spending Habits Under Fire
The jet purchase is the latest in a growing list of controversies surrounding Noem’s use of taxpayer funds. Earlier this year, The Washington Post reported that she had been living rent-free in the official waterfront residence reserved for the Coast Guard’s commandant, a property valued at millions. The same report revealed her frequent use of the Coast Guard’s existing jet for personal trips.
DHS officials defended the arrangement as a security precaution, citing threats against Noem, but confirmed that she later reimbursed “tens of thousands of dollars” to the government after the revelations became public.
Before joining the Biden administration, Noem’s spending as South Dakota’s governor also drew scrutiny. The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported she spent $68,000 in taxpayer money on redecorating the governor’s mansion — including luxury furnishings, chandeliers, and a sauna. The Associated Press later documented $150,000 in taxpayer-funded traveltied to political appearances and personal leisure, including a Paris trip and a bear hunting excursion in Canada.
Midtown Times Analysis: Optics, Accountability, and Political Risk
The optics of this latest purchase are difficult to ignore. At a time when federal workers are missing paychecks due to a shutdown, and when the Coast Guard struggles to modernize its aging fleet, a $172 million expenditure on high-end executive jets sends a conflicting message about leadership priorities and fiscal discipline.
The move also clashes with Noem’s own fiscal oversight directive, which requires her personal approval for all departmental expenditures exceeding $100,000. Critics have pointed out the irony that the largest DHS purchase in recent months directly benefits her office.
Politically, the controversy comes at a precarious moment for Noem. Once seen as a rising conservative star and potential future presidential contender, her spending habits and use of government perks now threaten to overshadow her policy agenda.
As the New York Times report continues to reverberate through Washington, congressional investigators are expected to demand further transparency into how, and why, DHS expanded its jet procurement plans.
For now, one thing is sure: the skies over Washington have become a little more turbulent for Secretary Noem.
Reporting adapted from The New York Times, by Catie Edmondson
