Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem came under fire for spending over $300 million on three private luxury jets to shuttle her around the world, using funds Congress allocated for border security, according to an Axios report.
Russ Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, previously expressed concerns about Noem’s spending on private jets.
When criticised, Noem said, “These photos are not accurate if you’re referring to the airplanes DHS is purchasing. We’re using them for long range command and control.”
The controversy highlighted ongoing tensions between the White House and Democrats over funding for the Department of Homeland Security and raised questions about govt accountability and the use of public funds during a time of budget constraints and competing priorities, Nation Today reported.
The Axios report said Noem spent over $300 million on three private luxury jets, including a top-of-the-line Boeing 737 Max 8 business jet, despite the money being allocated by Congress for border security. The report said the scandal came amid a budget fight between the White House and Democrats over DHS funding.
In October 2025, Noem was given $170 million to cover the cost of two Gulfstream G700 jets.
Last week, Noem’s luxury private jet was mocked for its “exceptional interior design” and resemblance to Austin Powers’ “shag jet”.
Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, called Noem’s spending “wholly inappropriate’, ‘blatantly immoral,’ and ‘probably illegal’”.
The president of the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense questioned whether Noem’s request for a new private jet was a “planned replacement” or a “top-down decision” to get her a “fancy new jet”.
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Noem to continue using the private jets.
