Democrats criticized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for purchasing two high-end private jets for the secretary and other top officials during the government shutdown. official visit,
The US Coast Guard signed a contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation on Friday for the purchase two G700 jets For more than $170 million, according to Documents posted On a public government procurement website.
jet, according to a Coast Guard Press ReleaseWould replace aircraft that were 20 years old and “experiencing numerous unplanned maintenance issues.”
The Coast Guard said the aircraft “are needed to provide official travel” for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar and the Coast Guard’s top commandant.
“The timing of this investment underscores the Coast Guard’s critical need to modernize its command and control capabilities to meet today’s rapidly evolving operational demands. As maritime activity increases and national security challenges become more complex, maintaining reliable air mobility is essential to ensuring continuity of operations and mission success,” Adm. Kevin Lunde, Acting Commandant of the Coast Guard, said in a Said in the statement.
But congressional Democrats say the purchase of the luxury jet is not in line with funding requests originally made for the department, and they have questioned the source of funding for the luxury jet.
one in letter to noemHouse Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) requested additional information on the purchase.
“It has come to our attention that, amid the government shutdown, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) entered into a sole source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation to purchase two new G700 luxury jets to support travel for you and the Deputy Secretary, costing the taxpayer $200 million,” DeLauro and Underwood wrote in the letter.
“Based on the Department’s public statement that you personally sign all DHS contracts valued at more than $100,000, and prior requests indicating that you are the primary user of these aircraft, we believe you are involved in the approval of this contract,” he continued.
The congresswoman criticized other moments of Noem’s tenure, saying, “It appears that you are routinely prioritizing yourself and those closest to you over the needs of the USCG service members who defend this country.”
He asked for additional information about what led to the change in the department’s strategy, where the funding was coming from, and why it did not notify Congress of the changes.
In May the Coast Guard included in its budget a request to purchase a new long-range Gulfstream V jet for Noem’s personal travel for about $50 million. democrat request destroyed In those days.
Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) purchase criticized described the “multiple luxury jets for her travel around the world for more photo-ops” as “completely inappropriate” and called for Congress to investigate the matter.
“The fact that she’s doing this during the federal government shutdown, while the majority of the DHS workforce is working without pay,” Thompson said. “This kind of spending is clearly unethical – and probably illegal – and Congress should investigate. We said no to her request for a $50 million jet earlier this year, but now she’s gone ahead anyway, quadrupling it.”
He said, “When Coast Guard service members are forced to use mission critical aircraft from the 1980s, pretending that this purchase was necessary for ‘security’ is the height of hypocrisy.”
Rep. Rick Larson (D-Wash.), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, likewise purchase criticized Amidst the ongoing shutdown.
“While Coast Guard members are focused on keeping our oceans safe, even though many aren’t getting paid, Secretary Kristi Noem wants to buy a hundred million dollars worth of jets,” Larson said in a statement. “Secretary Noem: Cool your jets and fly commercial.”
In an email statement, a senior adviser of Secretary of Coast Guard Larson’s statement in particular responded by accusing him of “playing politics with Coast Guard funding.”
“This is a matter of security and mission readiness. It is well known that senior military officers and Cabinet members require secure command and control and rapid long-range mobility,” said senior adviser Sean Plankey. The statement said,
“Such flippant comments are great for clicks and fundraising emails, but do not reflect the reality of protecting the American people 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. As a member of congressional leadership and the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee he should know more about this matter than his comments indicate.”
