Overview

• The government contracting record shows a sole‑source award Friday for two used Gulfstream G700s worth about $172 million for the Coast Guard’s Long Range Command and Control fleet.
• DHS defends the acquisition as a safety upgrade to replace a more than 20‑year‑old G550 deemed beyond service life and to provide secure communications for senior leadership.
• Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Lauren Underwood asked Secretary Kristi Noem to identify the funding source and explain why two aircraft were bought after a prior request for a single replacement.
• Homeland Security Committee Democrat Bennie Thompson urged a congressional investigation, calling the spending immoral and potentially illegal during the shutdown.
• DHS publicly disputed coverage that framed the jets as purchased solely for Noem, saying the aircraft are for USCG operations, while some reports say total costs could reach $200 million and delivery is projected for 2026.