Kristi Noem is facing backlash after reports revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking approval to purchase a $70 million luxury Boeing jet currently being leased by the Department of Homeland Security.
ICE, which falls under Noem’s authority at DHS, wants the White House to sign off on buying the aircraft outright, according to reporting from NBC News.
The jet has already been used by Noem, including for a recent trip to Tel Aviv, Israel, but officials now say it would serve deportation operations and Cabinet-level travel.
ICE claims the plane will support migrant deportations and transportation for DHS leadership as President Donald Trump pushes forward with his mass deportation agenda.
Some DHS officials, however, privately questioned whether a luxury 747 is necessary to carry out enforcement missions tied to immigration policy.
When asked how the aircraft would function in deportation operations, a DHS spokesperson said, “At least one of the bedrooms is currently being converted for seating to prepare the aircraft to meet the demands of its deportation mission.”
Photos obtained by NBC show the jet outfitted with a large bedroom, a high-end shower and a marble cocktail bar, fueling criticism from both media and political insiders.
The White House Office of Management and Budget will have final approval over whether ICE can move forward with the purchase.
reThe White House did not respond to requests for comment regarding the proposed acquisition or how it would align with broader spending priorities, per the Daily Mail.
NBC’s report was quickly circulated among Republican National Committee members and top GOP operatives through an internal communications list.
“Knives are out for Noem. They only send out stories they want folks to know about,” one GOP operator familiar with the distribution told the Daily Mail.
An RNC spokesperson pushed back on the interpretation, with Communications Director Zach Parkinson saying the communications team routinely monitors and shares media coverage.
“Whoever this ‘source’ is clearly has no idea how media monitoring works,” Parkinson said, adding that the RNC flags stories to help Republicans respond to what he called “legacy media lies.”
Parkinson also said, “Secretary Noem and all of President Trump’s appointees at DHS are doing great work and have the RNC’s full support,” as internal debate continues.
According to NBC, political appointees initially rejected purchasing the aircraft before reversing course, with one DHS official stating, “That particular plane was a ‘no,’ we weren’t going to buy it. Then all of a sudden, they said ‘yes.’”
Officials have reportedly discussed how the jet could be retrofitted for deportations while also accommodating Noem’s travel, and one DHS official indicated she expects final approval from the White House.
