$200M Splurge During Shutdown—Noem’s Audacity!

A Department of Homeland Security Secretary who once killed her own dog for misbehaving just spent up to $200 million on two luxury jets during a federal government shutdown, turning what should have been a routine aircraft replacement into a political firestorm that exposes the breathtaking audacity of Washington’s elite.

Story Snapshot

Kristi Noem’s DHS purchased two Gulfstream G700 luxury jets for $172-200 million, far exceeding the Coast Guard’s original request for one $50 million aircraft
The extravagant purchase occurred during a federal government shutdown, amplifying criticism about misplaced priorities
Congressional Democrats have launched an investigation with an October 30th deadline for DHS to explain the funding source and procurement process
The sole-source contract bypassed competitive bidding, raising questions about transparency and fiscal responsibility

From Modest Request to Luxury Splurge

The Coast Guard’s initial request seemed reasonable enough. They needed to replace a 20-year-old aircraft with obsolete avionics and unreliable communications systems. The price tag? A modest $50 million for a single jet to handle essential operations. Instead, Noem’s DHS delivered two top-tier Gulfstream G700s that cost American taxpayers four times the original estimate.

Republicans claim we're too much in debt… we gotta cut funding to the social programs….but we got money for these 2 planes. GTFO of here.

Kristi Noem gets luxury $172M jets she had asked for prompting questions over where the funding is coming fromhttps://t.co/uM5gaN2uiP

— Blue Screen of Death (@bsodnightmare) October 19, 2025

The Gulfstream G700 represents the pinnacle of private aviation luxury, featuring spacious cabins, premium materials, and cutting-edge technology. These aren’t utilitarian government workhorses—they’re executive toys designed for comfort, not coast guard operations. The timing makes it worse: purchasing luxury items during a government shutdown sends a clear message about whose needs matter most.

A Pattern of Questionable Spending

This isn’t Noem’s first rodeo with taxpayer-funded extravagance. Her track record includes using public money for personal and political travel, plus expensive mansion renovations. The woman who became infamous for shooting her own dog apparently has no qualms about shooting holes through the federal budget either. Her history suggests this latest splurge fits a disturbing pattern of treating public funds as personal piggy banks.

The sole-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation raises additional red flags. Bypassing competitive bidding processes eliminates the natural cost controls that protect taxpayers from exactly this type of overreach. When government officials can handpick vendors without transparency or competition, waste becomes inevitable and accountability disappears.

Congressional Pushback and Political Fallout

Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Lauren Underwood have demanded detailed explanations from DHS, including documentation about funding sources and justification for the procurement process. Their October 30th deadline puts Noem on the hot seat to explain how two luxury jets became essential for homeland security operations. The questions write themselves: Why two jets instead of one? Why luxury models instead of functional aircraft?

DHS spokespeople claim the purchase prioritized “safety, not luxury,” but that explanation rings hollow when comparing the final product to the original request. Safety concerns don’t automatically justify quadrupling costs or doubling quantities. The American people deserve transparency about how their tax dollars fund government operations, especially when those operations look suspiciously like executive perks.