DHS Secretary Kristi Noem blasted over demand for new $50M private jet: 'She should ask Qatar'

WASHINGTON, DC: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was slammed online over her demand for a new $50 million private jet.

During the Wednesday, May 14, hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Illinois Representative Lauren Underwood disclosed that the US Coast Guard made an eleventh-hour modification to its 2025 budget to accommodate Noem’s demand, as per The Daily Beast.

Rep Lauren Underwood questions acting Coast Guard Chief Admiral about Kristi Noem’s demand

Rebuking Kristi Noem's supposed demand in an X (formerly Twitter) post, Lauren Underwood wrote, "We should be investing in our national security and improving the lives of our Coasties – not wasting taxpayer dollars on luxury travel and political stunts."

“I was horrified last Friday when we received a last-minute addition to your spend plan for Fiscal [Year] ‘25: A new $50 million Gulfstream 5 for Secretary Noem’s personal travel coming from the Coast Guard budget,” Underwood told acting Coast Guard Chief Admiral Kevin Lunday during Wednesday's hearing.

She continued, “She already has a Gulfstream 5, by the way. This is a new one,” before she asked Lunday if he’d received any such demand from the Homeland Security Department seniors or the administration regarding a new plane for Noem

But instead of answering the question directly, Lunday said, “Meeting the needs of our Coast Guard men and women that are doing frontline operations is my top operational priority, and it’s a top operational priority of the secretary.” 

Acting Coast Guard Chief Admiral Kevin Lunday dodges real question and supports Kristi Noem

“She’s been clear with that to me, and I know she testified to that effect before the subcommittee last week,” Kevin Lunday added.

He further asserted that “this aircraft is necessary to provide… secure, reliable, on-demand communications and movement to go forward, visit our operating forces conducting the missions, and then come back here to Washington to make sure we can work together to get them what they need.”

Underwood, however, expressed her dissatisfaction and mentioned, “I just want to note that I didn’t hear the admiral answer the question about whether he was directed to purchase this new Gulfstream V. And I just want to note that as I conclude my time.”

Internet slams Kristi Noem for treating taxpayer dollars like a 'personal slush fund'

Meanwhile, people online also appeared to rage over Kristi Noem’s apparent demand.

An X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, “Maybe she should ask Qatar if they have an extra one lying around she could use while in office and then take home when she is done," referring to Qatar's offer to gift the US a $400 million plane for President Donald Trump.

Another expressed, “The grift, corruption and GALL of this administration every single day to use our money to live in luxury and suppress our rights is completely criminal and it must be PROSECUTED through the judiciary. USE THEM—that’s what they are there for Congresswoman.”

“Why does she need two personal planes?” a person asked.

An individual wrote, “50M for a luxury jet while Coast Guard budgets get scraps? Classic D.C. priorities. Noem already has a Gulfstream 5—this isn’t about security, it’s about bureaucrats treating taxpayer dollars like a personal slush fund. The real scandal? Agencies blow millions on vanity projects while service members deal with aging equipment and underfunded missions. Cut the waste, fund the mission.”

“How is this s*** legal. How do we cut research funding for every known disease, boot loyal Civil Service workers out of their jobs, cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, cut food stamps etc.all the name of saving money and then we have $100 million dollar parades and $50 million dollar Jets? Do the American people approve of this?” a person on Reddit said.

Another added, “DHS has aircraft. She can fly on one of them if available. Luxury accommodations are not required to cosplay an ICE agent. Maybe she should learn what DHS actually does. She’ll be shocked to learn it’s more than just rounding up immigrants and US citizens and deporting them.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.