DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Spends $200 Million of Taxpayer Money on Pair of Gulfstream G700 Private Jets During Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON — Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem is spending $200 million of taxpayer money on a pair of top-of-the-line luxury Gulfstream G700 private jets during a government shutdown.

House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Homeland Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Lauren Underwood (IL-14) requested more information from the Secretary regarding the purchase, which does not align with earlier funding requests for the Department.

“It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) entered into a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the Deputy Secretary, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200 million,” write DeLauro and Underwood. “Based on the Department’s public statement that you personally sign off on all DHS contracts that exceed $100,000 in value, and prior solicitations indicating that you are a primary user of these aircraft, we assume that you are involved in the approval of this contract.” 

The lawmakers write that Noem appears to prioritize herself over servicemembers: “Indeed, from choosing to live rent-free in the Commandant’s quarters, to defending Mr. Lewandowski’s refusal to provide basic information about his special government employee status, to your frequent appearances at ongoing operations which require a diversion of resources to focus on your security, it appears you are routinely prioritizing yourself and those closest to you over the needs of the USCG servicemembers who protect this nation.”

In their letter to the Department of Homeland Security, DeLauro and Underwood requested, in part, the following information:

• This contract announcement reflects a substantially different LRCCA acquisition strategy compared to what was provided in the Fiscal Year 2025 spend plan. Why did DHS not update the Committees on the changing strategy and changing use of taxpayer funds?
• What operational requirements have changed since the Department’s submission of USCG’s Fiscal Year 2025 spend plan in May? When did these requirements change and why were the Committees not notified of any change requirements?
• If the Coast Guard intends to use funds other than regular Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations to execute this contract, please explain the amount and from which account(s) and why LRCCA procurement is a better use of taxpayer funds than the original purpose of any such funds.   
• Please provide the name and title of each person in the Department, including any special government employees and senior advisors who reviewed or approved this contract.

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

The Honorable Kristi Noem
Secretary
Department of Homeland Security
1790 Ash Street, SE
Washington, DC 20032

Dear Secretary Noem:

It has come to our attention that, in the midst of a government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) entered into a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to procure two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the Deputy Secretary, at a cost to the taxpayer of $200 million. Based on the Department’s public statement that you personally sign off on all DHS contracts that exceed $100,000 in value, and prior solicitations indicating that you are a primary user of these aircraft, we assume that you are involved in the approval of this contract. 

This contract award directly contradicts the acquisition strategy and operational needs for the USCG’s Long Range Command and Control Aircraft (LRCCA) fleet, as outlined by your Department to the Committee in May and again in September. Worse, it reflects a continuing trend of self-aggrandizement in your tenure as Secretary. Your first priority should be to organize, train and equip a Coast Guard that is strong enough to meet today's mission requirements. Instead, it appears your first priority is your own comfort.

Indeed, from choosing to live rent-free in the Commandant’s quarters, to defending Mr. Lewandowski’s refusal to provide basic information about his special government employee status, to your frequent appearances at ongoing operations which require a diversion of resources to focus on your security, it appears you are routinely prioritizing yourself and those closest to you over the needs of the USCG servicemembers who protect this nation. 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 USCG has been directed to prioritize your own comfort above the USCG’s operational needs, even during a government shutdown. We are deeply concerned about your judgment, leadership priorities, and responsibility as a steward of taxpayer dollars.

In light of this abrupt change in procurement strategy, we request answers to the following questions as soon as possible, but no later than 12:00pm (EDT) October 30, 2025.

1. This contract announcement reflects a substantially different LRCCA acquisition strategy compared to what was provided in the Fiscal Year 2025 spend plan. Why did DHS not update the Committees on the changing strategy and changing use of taxpayer funds?
2. What operational requirements have changed since the Department’s submission of USCG’s Fiscal Year 2025 spend plan in May? When did these requirements change and why were the Committees not notified of any change in requirements?
3. What is the timeline for delivery of the two aircraft contemplated in the award announcement?
4. If USCG conducted an Analysis of Alternatives or similar exercise comparing the procurement of two G700s to the strategy of purchasing one used G550 (as the Department proposed in May), please provide that document to the Committee. If it did not conduct such analysis, please explain why not and why in the absence of such data the Coast Guard believes this strategy is in the best interests of the taxpayer and the Coast Guard.
5. Please clarify the funding source used to pay for this contract.  If the Fiscal Year 2025 spend plan has changed as a consequence of this decision, please provide an updated plan reflecting changes related to this procurement.
6. If the Coast Guard intends to use funds other than regular Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations to execute this contract, please explain the amount and from which account(s) and why LRCCA procurement is a better use of taxpayer funds than the original purpose of any such funds.   
7. Please provide the name and title of each person in the Department, including any special government employees and senior advisors, who reviewed or approved this contract.
8. Did any DHS component submit a justification and approval (J&A) document to support a sole-source award for this contract? If so, please provide that documentation. If not, please explain how DHS met statutory competition requirements under the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Finally, we remind you to preserve any and all documents related to this procurement should the Committee or other Congressional committee engage in further oversight of this matter. 

Sincerely,

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