Nothing's too good for Kristi Noem
Jake Johnson for Common Dreams
The decision to buy two Gulfstream G700 jets for Noem—a
central figure in President Donald Trump’s lawless mass deportation
campaign—drew swift criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who said the purchase
underscores the administration’s corruption and
contempt for those struggling amid a government shutdown with no end in sight.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the top Democrat on the
House Committee on Homeland Security, called the spending “wholly
inappropriate,” “blatantly immoral,” and “probably illegal” in a statement
issued Sunday.
“While the nation suffers under this corrupt and extreme administration, Secretary Noem is fleecing the American taxpayers to live in luxury,” said Thompson. “Not only does she now have multiple fancy jets to use, she lives rent-free on Coast Guard property.”
In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security—which
oversees the US Coast Guard (USCG)—Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Lauren
Underwood (D-Ill.) pointed to Noem’s policy of personally reviewing and deciding whether to
approve any contract exceeding $100,000 in value, an indication that the
secretary signed off on the new procurement of private jets from Gulfstream
Aerospace Corporation.
The purchase, wrote DeLauro and Underwood, “reflects a
continuing trend of self-aggrandizement” during Noem’s tenure as head of DHS.
The two Democrats demanded answers from the agency about the contract,
including the names of those who reviewed it and the funding source.
“In addition to raising serious questions about your ability
to effectively lead an agency whose procurement strategies appear to vary on a
whim, the procurement of new luxury jets for your use suggests that the USCG
has been directed to prioritize your own comfort above the USCG’s operational
needs, even during a government shutdown,” DeLauro and Underwood wrote. “We are
deeply concerned about your judgment, leadership priorities, and responsibility
as a steward of taxpayer dollars.”
News of the Coast Guard’s private jet purchase, which
DHS claimed was a “matter of safety,” comes as the Trump
administration continues to exploit the government shutdown to
inflict partisan funding cuts and accelerate its assault on
the federal workforce.
Recipients of federal nutrition assistance are among those
set to face significant harm if the shutdown persists.
According to the Trump administration’s own estimates, more than 40 million Americans could soon
see disruptions or cuts to their Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the
government remains shut down into November. The US Department of Agriculture reportedly
warned state agencies earlier this month that under such a scenario, the
federal government would have “insufficient funds” to fully pay out benefits.
The average monthly SNAP payment is $177 per person, according to the USDA.
“Can’t pay federal workers.
Can’t reopen the government. But sure, let’s buy Kristi Noem TWO private jets,”
Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) wrote in a social media post
on Sunday. “Republicans have
lost absolutely all touch with reality.”
