Kristi Noem Gets Put On Blast Over Wildly Expensive Private Jets

There's a new thing to add to the list of Kristi Noem's most controversial moments: getting new private jets for her work as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. The New York Times reports that two new jets have been purchased for Noem's use to the tune of $172 million. The Washington Post had the cost of the planes at $200 million. Noem has flaunted her wealth before, and it hasn't gone well, but we know that the jets aren't necessarily just for her. They're for the department, and they'd be available for the next DHS secretary after her. However, news of their purchase has come out amid the ongoing government shutdown, and people are less than impressed.

A number of Democrats are calling out Noem on social media for the extremely expensive purchase. Rep. Greg Casar of Texas posted  on X (formerly Twitter) that he thought Noem should resign. Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado weighed in on X as well, writing, "Republicans won't stop your insurance premiums from doubling. But they will buy two new private jets for Kristi Noem."

It's not just politicians who are irritated with Kristi Noem. One person quipped on X that Noem needed multiple planes for all her glam, as Noem is known for her hair extensions and multiple outfits that border on costumes. Another X user posted about the cost of the planes compared to the cost of Noem's rumored Botox treatments.

Another X burn on the former South Dakota governor over the planes read, "Imagine being told the government's 'too broke' to pay workers or feed kids — then watching them drop $172 million on private jets for a governor whose biggest achievement is making Mount Rushmore look humble. These people aren't conserving anything but their own luxury."

Noem was asked about the purchase of the planes at a press conference in Sarasota, Florida on October 20. The reporter also brought up the fact that the secretary's visits to operations in process cost extra money for security. Perhaps they were alluding to the time that Noem glammed up in a military Barbie look to join ICE officers. She defended the plane purchase by saying simply, "These aircraft are Coast Guard aircraft to replace 25-year-old airplanes that are necessary for the mission of the Coast Guard" (via Forbes Breaking News). In May 2025, the Coast Guard requested just one new plane at an estimated $50 million. It's not clear when they got upgraded to two planes for a much higher cost.