Kristi Noem buys $200 million in Gulfstream G700 luxury jets for DHS during a government shutdown

The Gulfstream G700 is the world's largest privately owned business jet, with a base commercial price of $78-79 million per aircraft and equipped configurations running $85-99 million

The Coast Guard signed a sole-source contract with Gulfstream Aerospace on October 17, 2025 — the first day of the government shutdownGovernment ShutdownA lapse in federal funding that forces non-essential agencies to halt operations when Congress fails to pass appropriations legislation or a continuing resolution before money runs out.Key ConceptGovernment ShutdownA lapse in federal funding that forces non-essential agencies to halt operations when Congress fails to pass appropriations legislation or a continuing resolution before money runs out.Open conceptBookmark — for two G700s at a total cost between $172 million and $200 million

The Coast Guard originally requested approximately $50 million for a single replacement aircraft in 2025 before the requirement expanded threefold to two G700s

The contract was signed while at least 670,000 federal workers were furloughed and 730,000 more worked without pay; the first missing paychecks hit on October 24, 2025

The planes officially serve 'senior DHS leadership' — meaning Secretary Kristi Noem and the Deputy Secretary — giving Noem two dedicated government aircraft at taxpayer expense