'No Final Decisions Have Been Made': DHS Mulls the Sale of Kristi Noem’s Controversial Boeing Deportation Jet

The life of Kristi Noem has changed drastically since President Donald Trump dismissed her as Homeland Security secretary in early March 2026 following intense bipartisan criticism.

Her standing further deteriorated following allegations that she had used taxpayers' money to buy a fleet of high-end aircraft while serving as the head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

With things going south after her dismissal, new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin is considering selling the customized private aircraft.

However, reports claim that a firm decision about the assets' sale is yet to be taken.

According to NBC News, the Trump administration is considering the sale of several aircraft that were either purchased or leased under the leadership of Noem.

This includes a luxury Boeing 737 MAX 8, which also happened to be the first such government-owned plane designated for agency operations.

Although chartered aircraft are typically used to deport immigrants, this specific jet was intended to be the agency's primary deportation plane.

Interestingly, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has yet to decide whether or not to sell the aircraft.

However, the premium jet wasn't the only asset the government is considering selling.

During Noem’s tenure, the DHS had also acquired several enormous warehouses, which were transferred to ICE earlier this year.

It was anticipated that these 11 properties would serve as deportation centers with a capacity to hold nearly 8,000 undocumented immigrants.

Government officials stated that “no final decisions have been made on the matter,” and the facilities are yet to be put on the market.

Noem had previously expected that during mass deportation crackdowns, the administration would detain 100,000 immigrants across the country at a single time.

A DHS spokesperson said, “Under new leadership, DHS is assessing all our resources, including aircraft, to maximize efficiency and continue to deliver on President Trump’s mission of securing the homeland for all Americans.”

The spokesperson added that Mullin is focused on ensuring the department’s needs are met while making the optimum use of taxpayer dollars, clarifying, “As with any transition, we are reviewing agency policies and proposals.”

It comes as no surprise that Noem’s tenure as the DHS secretary is seen as one of the most controversial chapters in the current Trump administration.

She has made headlines for a variety of reasons -- from sparking outrage over her commentary regarding the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti to the intense media scrutiny surrounding her alleged romance with Corey Lewandowski.

However, her successor is already facing his own wave of criticism for utilizing the very fleet she had purchased.

According to the BBC, Noem had authorized the $70 million acquisition of two premium Gulfstream G700 aircraft and the Boeing 737 MAX 8.

According to The Daily Mail, which quoted a DHS insider, the former Oklahoma senator seems to leave Washington early for long weekends.

Sources state that while he is publicly working to repair the department’s reputation, he is frequently utilizing the G700 jets to leave by Thursday and not return to the office until Monday.

“He is barely in the building,” the insider claimed, adding, “Mullin seems to think DHS requires less work than a senator, and it shows. Meanwhile, ICE has no direction.”

Another source said, "Mullin was one of the people complaining when Noem ordered the new planes. But they bought all the planes that Noem recommended. No complaints all of a sudden."