Fema’s $464 Million Jet Fleet Sits Idle Amid Spending Scrutiny

WHO:

Alternet - Kristi Noem acquired aircraft for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); the fleet was intended to support President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign.

Alternet - Corey Lewandowski served as an adviser to Noem. Markwayne Mullin, a former Oklahoma senator and Trump ally, now runs DHS.

Alternet - Daedalus Aviation Corporation received the aircraft purchase contract; its chairman had donated to a political committee supporting Noem.

Alternet - John Sandweg, a former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director in the Obama administration, questioned the need for a government-owned fleet.

CNN - FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton’s team sought to lease two jets without DHS leadership approval, according to three sources who spoke anonymously to CNN.

CNN - DHS oversees FEMA. The department’s aircraft have also transported FBI Director Kash Patel and members of the first family, according to Democratic members of Congress.

CNN - Eastern Air Express received a $380 million contract to fly and maintain DHS “government furnished aircraft.” Its CEO is Jeff Conry.

CNN - Former FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said buying two dedicated jets was “an unnecessary expense and a poor use of taxpayer dollars.”

WHAT:

Alternet - DHS acquired seven Boeing 737-700s for $464 million. Each had made fewer than five flights since April 2026, according to Bloomberg, citing ADS-B Exchange.

Alternet - On Noem’s final day, DHS acquired five jets from Daedalus: two Gulfstream business jets and a Boeing business jet advertised as having 17 passenger seats, a full kitchen and two bedrooms.

Alternet - The government increased deportation flights through existing contractors instead of relying on its own fleet. Sandweg said, “Why would you want to own your own fleet when you own all the problems?”

Alternet - A 737 considered for congressional delegation travel was 18 years old and had made one tracked flight, a loop around Lake Charles. Another 737 slated for upgrades was 22 years old.

CNN - FEMA withdrew a public solicitation to lease two jets with advanced capabilities, including laser mapping, hours after posting it. The solicitation was later removed from the contracting website.

CNN - DHS spent $464.5 million on eight Boeing 737s and two Gulfstream G-650s, and $885.6 million on ICE charter services in the preceding year. The combined fleet and charter costs exceeded $1.6 billion.

CNN - DHS awarded Eastern Air Express a $380 million contract to fly and maintain fleet aircraft that had not conducted a deportation flight since their purchase. The contract began in August 2026 and runs through February 2028.

CNN - DHS privately told lawmakers it expected to use only three of seven 737s for deportations; other planes could be used by members of Congress and government officials. A congressional source said, “No one asked for ICE planes for CODELs.”

WHERE:

Alternet - The seven 737s were parked at Lake Charles Regional Airport in southwest Louisiana.

CNN - Two DHS aircraft were moved to a maintenance facility in Greensboro, North Carolina. One aircraft was used for a Washington, DC-to-Dallas trip.

WHEN:

Alternet - Bloomberg reported that each of the seven 737s had flown fewer than five times since April 2026.

CNN - DHS purchased the aircraft between late 2025 and early 2026. The Eastern Air Express contract runs from August 2026 through February 2028.

WHY:

Alternet - The planes were purchased to increase deportations, but ICE aircraft availability had not significantly constrained deportation operations, Sandweg said.

CNN - FEMA’s proposed jets were intended to support rapid disaster response, but would primarily transport Hamilton and senior officials during disasters or routine travel.

HOW:

CNN - FEMA planned for the jets to be available 24/7. FEMA leaders have traditionally used Federal Aviation Administration, Air Force or Coast Guard aircraft for disaster response and commercial flights for routine travel.

CNN - DHS’s spokesperson called FEMA’s solicitation “an unauthorized post by an unauthorized individual” and said disciplinary action would be taken.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 00:37 UTC)

The Department of Homeland Security spent more than $464 million on Boeing jets and Gulfstream aircraft intended to support President Trump’s deportation campaign, but the planes have seen little use, and DHS expects to deploy only three of seven 737s for deportations. DHS also awarded Eastern Air Express a $380 million contract to fly and maintain the fleet, even though the aircraft had not conducted deportation flights since their purchase; the contract runs through February 2028. Separately, FEMA withdrew a solicitation to lease two jets for disaster response after DHS said it was unauthorized, while former FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell called buying dedicated jets an unnecessary expense and a poor use of taxpayer dollars.