Peters Urges DHS Inspector General to Investigate Secretary Noem’s Reported $200 Million Private Jets Purchase

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari requesting an investigation into DHS's reported contract to purchase two luxury private jets for Secretary Kristi Noem's personal use, totaling up to $200 million. Peters called for a full accounting of the purchase, noting that when Secretary Noem testified before the Committee earlier this year, she said that $50 million would be needed to replace a single jet-but made no mention of a second aircraft or the dramatic cost increase.

"This pattern demonstrates how unrestrained the Trump Administration is in its corruption and waste of taxpayer dollars," Peters wrote. "Instead of working to root out actual waste, the Trump Administration is cancelling vital services while spending $200 million in taxpayer dollars for private jets for Administration officials."

In the letter Peters also noted, "These reports of wasteful spending are particularly concerning as they come after Sec. Noem implemented a requirement that she personally approve all DHS contracts over $100,000. While DHS claimed the purpose of that policy is to eliminate wasteful spending, it reportedly caused a backlog of hundreds of 'mission critical' contracts, such as for the response to the Texas floods this past summer, airport screenings, inspections of homes damaged by natural disasters, and a Coast Guard training center."

In his letter, Peters urged Inspector General Cuffari to conduct a thorough investigation of DHS's justification for contracting with Gulfstream, including why the estimated purchase amount increased from $50 million to $200 million. He also requested confirmation of whether Secretary Noem personally reviewed and approved the purchase in accordance with her policy requiring personal approval of all contracts over $100,000.

The full text of the letter is available here.

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