Overview
- The Department of Homeland Security paid $464 million in a no‑bid deal to Daedalus Aviation for 10 used aircraft that were justified under an “unusual and compelling urgency” procurement exemption.
- Internal documents and reporting show seven Boeing 737 passenger jets have been parked for months at Lake Charles, Louisiana, because the agency lacks staff and infrastructure to operate them.
- Contracting records indicate the deal expanded by about $303 million on the day Secretary Markwayne Mullin was sworn in, while DHS and former Secretary Kristi Noem are publicly trading blame over who finalized the purchase.
- Three of the planes are luxury business jets and DHS has sought to lease or loan two to other agencies, including one leased to the FBI for Director Kash Patel’s travel.
- Senators Patty Murray and Chris Murphy sent a letter on Thursday demanding flight logs, contract details, and legal justifications as oversight questions focus on the urgency exemption, political ties to the vendor, and possible waste of taxpayer funds.