Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has reportedly drawn the ire of her fellow Trump officials after proposing the use of deportation funds to purchase a $70 million luxury jet the department is already using.
While her department has been temporarily shut down, Noem has been trying to get the green light to buy a lavish Boeing 737, equipped with a queen-sized bed, kitchen, bar, and four flat-screen televisions.
The jet is already being used to shepherd Noem and her alleged lover Corey Lewandowski around the country, despite her department’s claims that it would be used for deportations.
The funds for the jet would come out of the pot allocated for Project Homecoming, the self-deportation program co-run by DHS and the State Department, a proposal that has reportedly frustrated the Office of Management and Budget as well as the State Department.
“This is the world’s worst deal to buy an aircraft,” an anonymous senior administration official told Axios. A source also told Axios that OMB Director Russell Vought, whose office is responsible for approving such an expense, expressed concerns about the jet.
The Daily Beast reached out to DHS, OMB, and the State Department for comment.
The Department of Homeland Security is currently leasing the jet, but a spokesperson claimed that purchasing would save taxpayers money.
“This plane flies at 40% cheaper than what the military aircraft flies for ICE deportation flights—saving the American taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars," DHS told The Daily Beast in a statement. “Having the plane serve a dual mission of facilitating cabinet-level travel when not in use for deportations is a cost-saving measure for taxpayers.”
The spokesperson said “anyone who runs a business in the real world will tell you that owning a work vehicle is less expensive than dealing with long-term rental costs.” DHS also claimed that purchasing the jet is a “cost-saving investment” that reflects “Noem’s broader efforts to clamp down on inefficiencies and save taxpayer dollars.” It also claimed Noem has saved $13.1 billion.
The department told NBC News that the bedroom would be refitted with seats to “meet the demands” of its deportation plans. Currently, the aircraft can fit 18 people, but deportation flights typically hold between 50 and 100.
The jet’s indulgent features have made it the subject of controversy, and ongoing reports that it is being used as a private hideout for Noem and Lewandowski’s rumored affair.
If the purchase goes through, the Boeing 737 will be added to DHS’ existing fleet of luxury aircraft. The department purchased two Gulfstream G700s for $172 million last October, raising questions among Democratic lawmakers.
“In addition to raising serious questions about your ability to effectively lead an agency whose procurement strategies appear to vary on a whim, 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 the U.S.C.G.’s operational needs, even during a government shutdown,” a letter to Noem from Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Lauren Underwood reportedly said. “We are deeply concerned about your judgment, leadership priorities, and responsibility as a steward of taxpayer dollars.”
The DHS said the aircrafts were bought as part of “a planned, and long-needed update to the Coast Guard’s long-range command and control aircraft.” spokesperson said the previous vessel was over 20 years old and “well beyond operational usage hours for a corporate aircraft.”
This new purchase request comes during another partial government shutdown impacting Trump’s DHS. Congress has been at an impasse when it comes to funding the agency, as Democratic lawmakers wish to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents.
Noem announced the suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry in response to the lack of funding to her department, although TSA later confirmed that its PreCheck services were still in operation.
Noem had blamed the Democrats for this travel inconvenience, while her department explained that “it must take emergency measures to preserve limited funds and personnel.”
