The Trump administration will reportedly retain a $70 million luxury jet leased during the tenure of former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. According to The Wall Street Journal, First Lady Melania Trump’s office granted access to the aircraft.
The jet, a Boeing Business Jet 737 Max 8, will also reportedly be available for travel by members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
Kristi Noem left DHS last month after more than a year as secretary. Her tenure was marked by controversy, including heightened immigration enforcement and criticism following the fatal shootings of two American citizens by immigration officials earlier this year.
Despite her departure, DHS will continue to lease the aircraft she used, which has drawn scrutiny for its cost and amenities.
The Kenya Times reached out to the White House for comment via email about Melania Trump’s reported use of the DHS-leased jet. However, no response was received by the time of publication.
The jet, reportedly dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Jet” by DHS staffers, was leased from a company linked to William Walters, a former State Department official and Trump donor.
Walters owns several businesses that secured lucrative DHS contracts during Noem’s tenure, including a deal to sell six planes to the department and another contract worth up to $915 million.
Court documents have raised concerns about favoritism in the procurement process.
Features and use of the aircraft leased under Noem
The Boeing Business Jet is outfitted with a queen-size bedroom, a deluxe bar, showers, a kitchen, and multiple large flat-screen televisions.
Also Read: Another Loss as Court Halts Trump’s Plan to Splash $200 Million for White House Project
While typical 737 Max 8s seat between 162 and 178 passengers, the luxury version has capacity for just 17. DHS has said it plans to add seats by removing at least one bedroom, claiming the aircraft will be refurbished for detainee transport.
Critics, however, have questioned the practicality of using such a plane for deportations.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) previously described the aircraft as “a big, beautiful jet paid for by the Big, Beautiful Bill,” referencing Walters.
During a House oversight hearing, he asked whether it made sense to “buy a Rolls-Royce to turn into a Metro bus.” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) similarly questioned the justification for deportees being flown in a jet with luxury amenities.
Flight records show the plane has traveled to Amman, Jordan; Bermuda; the Dominican Republic; and airports near Mar-a-Lago.
Noem met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in December, coinciding with the jet’s presence in Amman.
Axios reported that Noem and adviser Corey Lewandowski loaned the jet to Melania Trump, who used it for flights between Washington, D.C., and New York.
The First Lady spoke at the United Nations Security Council on March 2, the day after one such flight.
Procurement and oversight concerns
Walters, who left government service in 2021, has become a vocal supporter of Trump’s immigration agenda.
His companies have benefited from DHS contracts under Noem, including the $70 million lease of the Boeing jet.
NBC News reported that DHS acquired two Gulfstream private jets for senior officials at $172 million and was considering the purchase of the Boeing aircraft outright.
Congressional oversight hearings have focused on the procurement process, with lawmakers citing an appearance of favoritism.
Also Read: Republican Speaker Swallows Words on DHS Bill He Called ‘Joke’ as It Heads to House
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) referenced reports of a romantic relationship between Noem and Lewandowski, asking Noem directly about allegations during testimony
Noem dismissed the claims as “tabloid garbage.” Both she and Lewandowski have denied being romantically involved.
Public attention intensified after The Daily Show dubbed the aircraft “a taxpayer-funded f**k plane,” though no evidence has emerged of inappropriate conduct aboard.
Noem told lawmakers she had only been on the plane once and said it was used by other administration officials.
Despite Noem’s dismissal, the Trump administration is moving forward with plans to retain the jet.
DHS has reportedly used funds from the administration’s self-deportation program to lease the aircraft and is in the process of purchasing it outright. The plane has been repainted and given a new registration number, N471US, with a design scheme similar to President Trump’s proposed redesign for Air Force One.
