Noem Defends DHS Purchase of 2 Coast Guard Planes After Criticism From Lawmakers

‘These aircraft are Coast Guard aircraft to replace 25-year-old airplanes,’ Noem told reporters.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a press conference at a federal office building in Bradenton, Fla., on Oct. 20, 2025. Octavio Jones/Getty Images

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Oct. 20 defended a $172 million purchase of two Gulfstream jets, saying they were necessary to replace the U.S. Coast Guard’s decades-old aircraft after Democratic lawmakers criticized the move.

During a press conference in Sarasota, Florida, Noem said that Congress had approved and appropriated funding for the jets under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in July.

“These aircraft are Coast Guard aircraft to replace 25-year-old airplanes that are necessary for the mission of the Coast Guard,” she told reporters. “Congress appropriated the dollars and paid for them in the Big Beautiful bill, and we’re grateful that we’re able to move forward.”

The bill states that more than $2.3 billion in funding was allocated to the Coast Guard for “procurement and acquisition of rotary-wing aircraft, equipment related to such aircraft and training simulators and program management for such aircraft, to provide for security of the maritime border.”

Noem’s remarks came after some lawmakers criticized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for spending millions of dollars while government budgets are limited by the shutdown.

House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Homeland Security Subcommittee ranking member Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) sent a letter to Noem on Oct. 18 requesting information about a sole-source contract the U.S. Coast Guard entered with Gulfstream to purchase two G700 private jets.

The lawmakers said that the contract runs counter to “the acquisition strategy and operational needs” for the Coast Guard’s Long Range Command and Control Aircraft fleet.

“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. Coast Guard] has been directed to prioritize your own comfort above the USCG’s operational needs, even during a government shutdown,” they stated.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) urged the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to open a full investigation into the Coast Guard’s jet acquisition.

“I’m demanding the GAO do a full investigation as to what the hell is the justification for buying these jets,” Schumer said in a social media video posted on Oct. 20.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) on Oct. 18 said that Congress had rejected a request from the DHS for a $50 million jet earlier this year. He urged Congress to investigate the Gulfstream jet purchase.

In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, the DHS stated that Congress has “never rejected the funding” of the critical asset. The department pointed to its post on X reiterating that the jet purchases are intended to replace Coast Guard’s aging planes, which have faced “significant maintenance issues.”

It noted that Coast Guard’s long-range command and control aircraft have undergone 30 days of unplanned maintenance, leading to the cancellation of six missions since January.

“The timing of this investment underscores the Coast Guard’s vital need to modernize its command and control capabilities to meet today’s rapidly evolving operational demands,” Adm. Kevin Lunday, the Coast Guard’s acting commandant, said in a statement.

“As maritime activity increases and national security challenges grow more complex, maintaining reliable air mobility is essential to ensuring continuity of operations and mission success,” he added.

The DHS also refuted a report by The New York Times suggesting the jets were bought for the secretary’s use. The department said the planes are for Coast Guard servicemembers carrying out national security missions.

In an Oct. 19 statement on X, the DHS said the new aircraft are vital for ensuring the Coast Guard’s “safety and mission readiness,” adding that senior military officials and cabinet members require “secure command and control and rapid long range mobility.”

On Monday, the Trump administration announced plans to mobilize the Coast Guard to secure the Rio Grande against illegal immigration.

Acting Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Kevin Lunday said the operation will give the Coast Guard control over the southern border in eastern Texas.

“The U.S. Coast Guard is the best in the world at tactical boat operations and maritime interdiction at sea, along coasts, and in riverine environments,” Lunday said.

Jill McLaughlin contributed to this report.