Table of Contents
- $172 Million Jet Purchase Revealed
- Why Two Gulfstream G700s?
- Democratic Lawmakers Demand Answers
- A Pattern of Lavish Spending?
- Coast Guard Funding and the Government Shutdown
- Sources
Kristi Noem’s $172 Million Gulfstream Jet Deal Sparks National Debate
In a move drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers and watchdog groups, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has quietly finalized a $172 million contract to purchase two used Gulfstream G700 private jets—ostensibly for Secretary Kristi Noem and other top officials.
The deal, first reported by The New York Times on October 18, 2025, comes amid heightened scrutiny over Noem’s spending habits and leadership priorities at a time when federal agencies are grappling with budget constraints and a partial government shutdown.
Why Two Gulfstream G700s?
Initially, the U.S. Coast Guard—a branch of DHS—had requested funding for a single Gulfstream V jet, estimated at $50 million, to replace an aging aircraft over 20 years old. But procurement documents later revealed the department instead acquired two Gulfstream G700s—Gulfstream’s flagship model, marketed as having the “most spacious cabin in the industry.”
According to Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the Coast Guard, the older jet suffered from “increasingly obsolete avionics” and “unreliable communications,” making it unsafe for high-level travel. “Secure, reliable, on-demand communications and movement” were cited as key justifications.
Yet the leap from one replacement jet to two top-tier models—totaling $172 million—has raised eyebrows. The DHS defended the purchase as “a matter of safety,” but declined to explain why the scope expanded so dramatically beyond the original request.
Democratic Lawmakers Demand Answers
Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL) sent a sharply worded letter to Secretary Noem demanding clarity on the funding source and decision-making process.
“The procurement of new luxury jets for your use suggests that the U.S. Coast Guard has been directed to prioritize your own comfort above operational needs—even during a government shutdown,” the lawmakers wrote.
They questioned Noem’s judgment and called the move a “stewardship failure” of taxpayer dollars, especially given her recent mandate requiring her personal approval for any DHS expense over $100,000.
A Pattern of Lavish Spending?
This isn’t the first time Noem’s expenses have made headlines. As governor of South Dakota, she spent $68,000 redecorating the governor’s mansion—including chandeliers and a sauna—and used state funds to cover $150,000 in personal and political travel, including a bear hunt in Canada and a speech at a right-wing event in Paris.
More recently, she drew criticism for living rent-free in the Coast Guard commandant’s waterfront residence and using the agency’s jet for personal trips. A DHS spokesperson claimed those personal flights were later reimbursed “tens of thousands of dollars” after media exposure.
Coast Guard Funding and the Government Shutdown
Ironically, the jet purchase coincides with Republican-backed legislation that allocated $25 billion in new Coast Guard funding this year—including $2.3 billion specifically for aircraft procurement. Noem claimed last week she was using some of that money to ensure Coast Guard personnel received paychecks during the shutdown.
Critics argue that if operational readiness was truly the priority, those funds should have gone toward frontline resources—not executive luxury travel.
