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4d ago

Congress Questions $50M Request for New DHS Jet as Safety and Spending Debates Intensify

Lawmakers scrutinize the Coast Guard's late-stage budget proposal for a Gulfstream 5 jet, citing concerns over taxpayer-funded luxury and operational priorities.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testifies during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
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Overview

  • The U.S. Coast Guard has requested $50 million in President Trump's proposed budget to replace a 20-year-old Gulfstream 5 jet used by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
  • Rep. Lauren Underwood criticized the request during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, questioning the propriety of funding luxury travel while existing resources are stretched thin.
  • Admiral Kevin E. Lunday testified that one of the Coast Guard's two C-37 jets has outdated avionics and unreliable communications, emphasizing the need for modernization to ensure operational safety.
  • DHS official Tricia McLaughlin defended the request, citing the jet's age and extensive use, framing the replacement as a safety necessity rather than a luxury upgrade.
  • Rep. Ted Lieu mocked the timing of the request, drawing parallels to past controversies over executive branch luxury gifts, including President Trump's consideration of a $400 million jet from Qatar.