The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has come under fire over a report that it purchased five aircraft at inflated prices from a firm tied to a political donor of former Secretary Kristi Noem, just hours before she left office. Noem, however, has strongly pushed back against the allegations.
According to an investigation by The New York Times, DHS paid a total of $304 million for the five planes, all bought from Daedalus Aviation Corporation. The breakdown includes $108 million for a Boeing 737 converted into a private jet, $106 million for two Gulfstream jets, and $45 million each for two additional Boeing 737 passenger aircraft. The purchases were reportedly completed on the morning before Noem departed her role, which she did on March 24 when Markwayne Mullin took over as Secretary.
Noem, who was dismissed by President Trump on March 5 following a series of controversies, took to social media to dispute the report. She labeled the paper "dishonest," claimed that "numerous corrections" had been made, and called the use of the term "donor" misleading.
The report identifies William Walters, head of Daedalus, as having donated $10,000 to American Resolve, a political action committee that supported Noem. The Times noted that the purchase prices were significantly higher than what Daedalus had originally paid for the aircraft. For instance, the Boeing 737 private jet was acquired by Daedalus for under $90 million just months before DHS bought it, and the Gulfstreams were purchased by the company for $83 million, well below the $106 million DHS paid.
In her response, Noem argued that the article fails to meet the standards of precision expected of the Times, stating, "If the individual did not personally make political contributions to Secretary Noem, or if the term 'donor' instead refers indirectly to unrelated entities or legally distinct contributions, the article simply fails to meet the standards of precision expected of The New York Times."
The five planes are part of a larger 10-plane acquisition that DHS previously said was necessary for deportation flights. However, reports indicate that the aircraft have largely remained unused due to a lack of flight crews. This has raised questions about the necessity and oversight of the purchases, especially given the no-bid contract awarded to Daedalus.
Beyond the plane purchases, DHS also contracted Salus Worldwide, another Walters-owned company, to maintain the aircraft. Salus was also hired to provide charter flights for Noem and her aides, as well as to run a program encouraging immigrants to self-deport. These connections have drawn scrutiny from government watchdogs and lawmakers, though DHS has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The controversy comes amid broader debates over government spending and the use of private jets by officials. Critics argue that such purchases, especially when tied to political donors, undermine public trust. Supporters of Noem, however, see the report as another example of media bias against the former governor.
As the story develops, the focus remains on whether DHS acted appropriately in its acquisitions and whether the public will get a full accounting of the costs and justifications.
