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Fact check: Did Kristi Noem use state-owned jets for personal or campaign trips?
Executive Summary
Federal records and reporting show the U.S. Coast Guard bought two Gulfstream-class jets with taxpayer funds that are listed to serve senior Department of Homeland Security officials, including Secretary Kristi Noem; the exact purchase price and the extent of Noem’s personal or campaign use remain disputed across authoritative sources. Reporting and official statements diverge: a House Appropriations release says $200 million was spent in a sole-source deal during a shutdown [1], Newsweek relays DHS pushback calling some claims “lies” while still documenting purchases [2], and Snopes’ review rates the central purchase claim “Mostly True” while noting price discrepancies [3].
1. How the purchase narrative took shape and who’s claiming what
News coverage and oversight documents converge on a single factual pivot: the Coast Guard acquired two government jets intended to serve senior DHS officials, and those officials are named to include Secretary Noem. The House Appropriations Committee framed the acquisition as a $200 million sole-source purchase finalized amid a government shutdown, emphasizing procurement concerns and taxpayer impact [1]. Newsweek summarized DHS rebuttals to a claim that the jets were bought specifically for Noem and reported that DHS labelled that specific claim as “lies,” even while the outlet also noted the Coast Guard’s broader acquisition that included provision for top officials [2]. Snopes’ investigation corroborated the purchase and found that reported price figures vary, leading it to rate the overarching claim largely accurate but problematic on details [3].
2. The money question: $172 million, $200 million, and the gap in accounting
Public accounts present a material discrepancy in the headline dollar amounts tied to the jets. The House Appropriations Committee’s statement puts the figure at $200 million, asserting the cost and the sole-source nature of the contract during a shutdown as particularly notable [1]. Newsweek’s summary and other reporting cite an alternative figure of $172 million tied to Coast Guard procurement records, reflecting a different accounting or contract interpretation [2]. Snopes highlights this divergence and concludes that while the Coast Guard did buy two jets for senior officials, the precise total is unclear across sources and reporting methods, which justifies its “Mostly True” rating [3]. The dollar-range discrepancy is central to debates over waste, oversight, and political framing.
3. What the sources say about use: official role vs. personal or campaign trips
The documents and fact checks confirm that the acquired aircraft were intended for senior DHS use, which includes transportation for top officials such as the DHS secretary; however, none of the provided sources definitively documents routine personal or campaign flights by Noem on these jets. The House Appropriations release raises concerns about procurement timing and accountability but does not produce a flight log in the materials summarized [1]. Newsweek reports DHS calling a specific allegation—that the Coast Guard bought private jets for the secretary—“lies,” suggesting DHS disputes characterization that the purchase was bespoke for Noem rather than for a broader senior-staff transport mission [2]. Snopes confirms the purchase and the association with top officials but underscores that detail-level claims about personal or campaign usage outstrip the available documentation [3].
4. How fact-checkers and officials frame credibility and intent
Evaluations differ by institutional posture: the House Appropriations Committee emphasizes procurement oversight and taxpayer protection, framing the acquisition as problematic and politically salient [1]. DHS’s public response, as captured in reporting, focuses on denying characterizations that suggest the jets were bought solely for Secretary Noem, labeling that narrative as false while acknowledging the Coast Guard’s broader purchases [2]. Snopes seeks a middle ground: it affirms the factual basis that the jets were purchased and assigned for senior use but flags uncertainties over price and specific beneficiaries, leading to a “Mostly True” finding that highlights where reporting simplified or overstated available evidence [3].
5. Bottom line: what is established and what remains unresolved
It is established that the Coast Guard purchased two Gulfstream-class aircraft paid for with federal funds and that those jets are documented to serve senior DHS officials, including Secretary Noem; this foundational claim is supported by oversight reporting and independent fact-checking [1] [3]. What remains unresolved in the materials provided is whether the jets were purchased expressly for Noem personally, whether she used them for personal or campaign travel, and the exact total cost—figures range from $172 million to $200 million across sources [2] [1] [3]. The divergent emphases suggest different agendas: congressional oversight stressing misuse of funds, DHS defending against personalized accusations, and independent fact-checkers parsing verifiable from speculative claims.