The Department of Homeland Security has recently come under fire for acquiring two Gulfstream private jets intended for use by its secretary, Kristi Noem. This decision has sparked criticism from Democrats and other observers who accuse Noem of indulging in excessive personal spending while in office.

According to a report by the New York Times, documents available on a public government procurement site reveal that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed a contract with Gulfstream for the purchase of two used G700 jets, costing over $172 million.

Critics have slammed the timing of this purchase, pointing out that it occurred during a government shutdown that has resulted in the furlough of hundreds of thousands of federal employees and led to widespread layoffs.

This incident adds to a series of controversies surrounding the DHS secretary, who has faced previous allegations of misusing public funds for personal expenses. She has also been derisively nicknamed ‘ICE Barbie’ due to her highly stylized, militaristic attire during televised immigration operations.

In a statement from the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rick Larsen, a Democratic congressman from Washington and ranking member of the committee, expressed his disapproval. “While members of the Coast Guard remain committed to safeguarding our seas despite many not receiving pay, Secretary Kristi Noem seeks to acquire jets worth hundreds of millions,” Larsen remarked.

The statement went on to say: ‘Secretary Noem: cool your jets and fly commercial.’

Gulfstream says the G700 jet models purchased by the department boast the ‘most spacious cabin in the industry.’ 

Department officials have said the new jets were needed for safety. Earlier this year, the Coast Guard put in a request to purchase a new long-range Gulstream V jet, at an estimated cost of $50 million, to replace Noem’s aging model. 

Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, is facing backlash from Democrats for the department’s $172 million purchase of two new private jets for her

The G700 jets that were purchased boast the ‘most spacious cabin in the industry’ (stock image)

A public affairs official at the DHS told the New York Times that the department’s existing jet was more than 20 years old and ‘well beyond operational usage hours for a corporate aircraft.’ 

It is unclear why the contract expanded more than three times the original budget request or where funding for the purchase came from. 

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Senior advisor to the Secretary for the Coast Guard Sean Plankey responded to Congressman Larsen’s criticism, saying: ‘It’s incredibly disappointing that Congressman Larsen has a Coast Guard facility in his district, but is playing politics with the funding of the Coast Guard.’ 

The statement went on to say the new jets were a matter of ‘safety and mission readiness,’ and that it is ‘well known that senior military officials and cabinet members need secure command and control and rapid long range mobility.’ 

‘Flippant comments like this are great for clicks and fundraising emails, but don’t reflect the reality of protecting the American people,’ Plankey said. 

DHS representatives did not respond to the Daily Mail’s inquiry about the source of funding for the jets. 

Democratic lawmakers have asked Noem to ‘clarify the funding source,’ in a letter penned by Representatives Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Lauren Underwood of Illinois. 

The letter said: ‘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.C.G. has been directed to prioritize your own comfort above the U.S.C.G.’s operational needs, even during a government shutdown.

Noem has been called ‘ICE Barbie’ for wearing camera-ready militaristic outfits during publicized immigration raids

Noem has been accused of misusing public funds in her current role as DHS Secretary, and she faced similar accusations when she served as the governor of South Dakota

‘We are deeply concerned about your judgment, leadership priorities, and responsibility as a steward of taxpayer dollars.’ 

Noem has previously been accused of misusing public funds and resources, and she has been called a hypocrite for a policy she implemented at the DHS requiring any expenditure above $100,000 to be personally approved by her. 

Democrats have called out the secretary for staying rent-free at a ritzy waterfront residence normally reserved for the Coast Guard’s commandant. She was also criticized for using the Coast Guard’s private jet for personal travel. 

A spokeswoman for the department said her residency at the home was a necessary safety precaution after Noem received myriad threats and that the secretary had paid back ‘tens of thousands of dollars’ to the government to reimburse personal travel on the jet. 

Noem also faced similar controversies while serving as the governor of South Dakota. In 2021, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reported that she had spent $68,000 of taxpayer money on renovating the governor’s mansion. 

Those funds reportedly went toward rugs, chandeliers and the installation of a sauna.

In March, the AP reported that Noem had spent $150,000 of taxpayer money on personal and political travel costs, which included a six-day trip to Paris where she gave a speech at a right-wing event and a bear hunt in Canada with her niece.