Lawmakers Slam DHS $50M Jet Budget Proposal \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Department of Homeland Security is requesting $50 million to replace an aging Gulfstream jet used by Secretary Kristi Noem and top DHS officials. Lawmakers raised concerns during a House hearing, criticizing the last-minute budget addition. DHS says the new aircraft is essential for secure communication and operational readiness.
Quick Looks
- DHS proposes $50M for a new Gulfstream jet in FY2025.
- Aircraft used by Secretary Kristi Noem, Coast Guard leadership.
- Request comes from the Coast Guard’s budget proposal.
- Rep. Lauren Underwood calls the move a misuse of funds.
- DHS defends jet as outdated, with unreliable avionics.
- Current aircraft is over 20 years old and nearing obsolescence.
- Replacement needed for secure, on-demand command transportation.
- Noem also has access to another Gulfstream aircraft.
- Coast Guard received a separate C-37B in 2022.
- New jet would support DHS-wide operations, global mobility.
- Critics call the purchase “luxury travel” amid budget constraints.
- Trump may accept private Boeing 747 from Qatar royal family.
Deep Look
DHS Requests $50 Million for Gulfstream Jet Upgrade, Prompting Bipartisan Scrutiny Over Spending Priorities
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is facing mounting criticism after requesting $50 million from the Coast Guard’s upcoming fiscal year 2025 budget to purchase a new long-range Gulfstream jet. The aircraft would replace an aging executive jet used by Secretary Kristi Noem and top DHS and Coast Guard officials. The move comes amid broader scrutiny over government spending on high-end travel for federal officials.
The funding request surfaced Wednesday during a House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, catching some lawmakers off guard. Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood of Illinois, the ranking member of the subcommittee, expressed alarm over what she described as a “last-minute addition” to the budget proposal.
“I was horrified to see this in the Coast Guard budget,” Underwood posted on social media. “We should be investing in national security and the wellbeing of our Coasties — not wasting taxpayer dollars on luxury travel and political stunts.”
DHS Defends Jet as Essential, Not Excessive
According to DHS and Coast Guard officials, the proposed Gulfstream would replace an aircraft that is more than two decades old and increasingly unreliable for high-priority government use. Acting Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday emphasized during the hearing that the current aircraft is not just aging, but fast approaching the end of its operational service life.
“Like much of our aviation fleet, the avionics are obsolete, the communications are unreliable, and the aircraft is nearing failure,” said Lunday. “This is a replacement rooted in operational necessity.”
The aircraft, part of DHS’s long-range command and control fleet, is used to ensure secure and immediate transportation for the secretary of Homeland Security, the deputy secretary, the commandant, and other senior leaders. Lunday, who assumed his role after President Donald Trump fired Adm. Linda Fagan earlier this year, stressed that the plane is vital for real-time global mobility during crises and national security events.
Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin echoed that rationale in a written statement, calling the replacement “a matter of safety” and “critical to national readiness.”
Critics Point to Political Optics and Overlap
Critics argue that the purchase raises red flags, especially since the Coast Guard already acquired a similar C-37B aircraft in 2022. That aircraft, which can travel 5,000 nautical miles and seats 12, was designated to serve the same mission: global command and control capabilities for DHS leadership. It’s currently based at Coast Guard Air Station Washington, D.C.
Adding fuel to the controversy is the fact that Secretary Noem, who is often at the center of partisan debates, has access to other Gulfstream aircraft. DHS has not answered questions about the frequency of her use of the aircraft in question or how the new jet would differ in purpose from the existing one.
Rep. Underwood’s criticism also ties into broader concerns about transparency and fiscal responsibility. “This isn’t just about one plane. It’s about making sure every dollar supports the men and women on the frontlines — not executive perks,” she said.
Trump’s Aircraft Optics Complicate the Narrative
The jet request comes at a politically sensitive time. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering accepting a luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft from Qatar’s royal family as a gift — a move that could further complicate public perception of elite-level travel within his administration.
The optics of back-to-back headlines involving private luxury aircraft could be problematic for an administration already facing pressure to justify high-dollar expenditures during a time of budgetary caution and global instability.
The Bigger Picture: Modernizing Aging Infrastructure
DHS insists the aircraft is a necessary investment to maintain its ability to respond quickly to national emergencies and threats. Officials argue that much of the Coast Guard’s operational infrastructure — from cutters and patrol boats to aircraft and radar — is outdated and in dire need of modernization.
“This isn’t about luxury. It’s about capability,” Adm. Lunday said, warning that failure to replace the aging jet could hinder mission readiness and national coordination in times of crisis.
Whether the funding will remain in the final 2025 budget remains to be seen. Lawmakers are expected to challenge the request during the full appropriations process, with both parties weighing the perceived necessity of the aircraft against competing funding priorities such as border security, counterterrorism, disaster response, and service member welfare.
As Congress debates DHS’s request, one thing is clear: the intersection of politics, optics, and aviation spending has once again taken flight — and the landing may be bumpy.
Lawmakers Slam DHS Lawmakers Slam DHS
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