DHS to spend $200 million on private jets for Noem, other officials

Posted October 18, 2025 8:04 pm

By Marianne LeVine and Gerrit De Vynck

The Coast Guard plans to buy two Gulfstream private jets to be used by Homeland Security Department Secretary Kristi L. Noem and other top DHS and Coast Guard officials at a total estimated cost of $200 million, according to a document obtained by The Washington Post.

The total cost, which includes payment for training, “specialized paint” and “cabin enhancements,” far outstrips the $50 million the Coast Guard had requested this year to purchase a new Gulfstream jet.

The jets contract is the latest use of funds and assets by Noem and DHS to draw attention. In August, The Post reported that Noem was living rent-free at a home reserved for the Coast Guard’s top admiral. Noem’s use of the Coast Guard’s existing jet for personal travel has also been criticized by Democrats and ethics watchdogs.

A spokesperson for DHS did not return a request for comment. DHS spokespeople previously said Noem’s use of the Coast Guard residence was temporary and that she had reimbursed the government for private travel on Coast Guard-owned aircraft.

The New York Times earlier reported on the existence of the jets contract.

Congressional Democrats decried the new $200 million contract, accusing Noem of putting herself ahead of Coast Guard service members during the government shutdown.

“The procurement of new luxury jets for your use suggests that the USCG has been directed to prioritize your own comfort above the USCG’s operational needs,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), a ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Illinois), a ranking member on the homeland security subcommittee, wrote in a letter to Noem dated Saturday. “We are deeply concerned about your judgment, leadership priorities, and responsibility as a steward of taxpayer dollars.”

The $200 million contract is meant to buy two Gulfstream G700 jets, which the company markets as “the pinnacle of business aviation excellence.” It has a range of 7,750 miles and has the largest cabin of any Gulfstream jet, with room for up to five living spaces, according to the company’s website.