Overview
- Federal records show DHS used a no-bid contract to pay $464 million for 10 used aircraft last fall, claiming an urgent need for deportation flights.
- An internal document says seven Boeing 737s have remained parked for months at Lake Charles, Louisiana, because DHS lacked crew to operate them.
- Three purchased jets are luxury executive planes and at least one was leased to the FBI for Director Kash Patel while another was offered to the Pentagon.
- Contracting files indicate the deal grew by about $303 million on the day Markwayne Mullin was sworn in and current and former DHS leaders are publicly trading responsibility.
- Senators Patty Murray and Chris Murphy demanded detailed contracts, flight logs and legal justifications on Aug. 13 and copied the DHS inspector general as they press for oversight.