Homeland Security buying 2 private jets for Kristi Noem's use, reports say

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Updated Oct. 18, 2025, 6:15 p.m. ET


The Department of Homeland Security is buying a pair of private jets for Secretary Kristi Noem's travels as she represents President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts across the country, according to media reports.

The two Gulfstream jets are being purchased through the Coast Guard, which requested one jet in its budget earlier this year at an estimated cost of $50 million.

The New York Times reported the two jets will cost $172 million, while The Washington Post reported their cost at $200 million.

The planes will replace an older jet. A Homeland Security spokesperson told The New York Times the upgrade is needed for safety reasons. The agency did not immediately return a request for comment from USA TODAY. A pair of House Democrats sent Noem a letter questioning the jet purchases, saying they suggest the Coast Guard "has been directed to prioritize your own comfort above" its needs.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/10/18/dhs-jets-kristi-noem-reports/86776610007/

[Buddyzbuddy]

1. 2 jets? Is she making Corey fly separately?

[PatSeg]

4. Seriously

What on earth does she need with TWO jets? Her position has really gone to her head. Maybe we need a "No Queens Day".

[IbogaProject]

14. Simple less downtimes when service is required

This is very shady, she is also living on a military base near DC in Senior Officer Quarters at excessive expense.

[PatSeg]

18. Then she could have bought one new plane

and used the old one as backup.

Her position has really gone to her head big time. Does she realize how temporary it is unless she's hoping to run for president some day? She could just look around her and see what happened to cabinet members from Trump's first term. These people are alarmingly shortsighted.

[IcyPeas]

2. Paging DOGE.

[Lonestarblue]

3. We fire government workers to cut costs but can afford up to $200 million for private jets.

I guess military planes are not luxurious enough for Noem or heaven forbid that she have to endure riding with commercial passengers on regular flights. She’s probably afraid of being booed by people on commercial flights.

[GiqueCee]

5. 2 jets for Kristi...

... $40 BILLION for Argentina, whose president immediately cut US farmers off at the knees by undercutting the price of soy beans to China, a needless "ballroom" in the White House for $200+ million, a massively expensive Arc de Triumph for Trump's infantile ego, a grossly inflated budget for ICE stormtroopers, and the list goes on, and on, and on.
But feeding underprivileged children, and providing ANY access at all to medical care are just too expensive.
Republicans are irredeemable monsters. And that goes double for their oligarch owners.

[Ferrets are Cool]

6. Don't forget the enablers in Congress.

[GiqueCee]

8. Don't worry...

... they're all included under the heading, "irredeemable monsters".

[BumRushDaShow]

7. They projected nonsense about what they considered "Waste. Fraud. Abuse"

and are showing the American people how to actually engage in "Waste. Fraud. Abuse".

[twodogsbarking]

9. Why can't she just use her broom?

[calimary]

10. GOOD one!

[BattleRow]

15. We could call her jets the "Barbie Brooms".

[BattleRow]

16. On second thought..

Too bad ICE can't cool HER "jets."

[live love laugh]

11. Taxpayer money wasted.

[Prairie Gates]

12. They should get her a tour bus with a bathroom

[gfarber]

13. The Jet Set Life

Kristi Noem's now a jet-setting dame,
With two Gulfstreams to carry her name.
They say it's for flight,
But it don’t feel quite right—
Since the Coast Guard's footing the game.

The Coast Guard asked for just one,
But now two jets are part of the fun.
Fifty mil was the start,
Now it’s twice that in part—
What a way to get border work done!

They claim it’s for safety, you see,
To soar o’er the land and the sea.
But critics suspect,
With some cause to reflect,
That it’s more about VIP luxury.

Two Dems sent a letter quite terse,
Said the optics could hardly be worse.
"Is this comfort or need?
Or just taxpayer greed?"
Now the Coast Guard must open its purse.

Asked for comment, DHS went mute,
While the headlines continued to shoot.
With the press at their door,
They just stared at the floor—
Not a peep from the Homeland salute.

[milestogo]

17. I hope she flies all the time

and stays out of airports.