Full Breakdown
DHS Plane Purchases to Donor’s Firm in Kristi Noem’s Final Days
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
Kristi Noem served as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from March 2025 until her dismissal by President Donald Trump in March 2026. In the agency’s closing weeks, DHS entered into five aircraft contracts with Daedalus Aviation Corporation, whose chairman, William Walters, contributed $10,000 to Noem’s political action committee, American Resolve, in 2024. Daedalus had previously secured over $900 million in DHS contracts after Noem’s appointment. The purchases were made on Noem’s last morning at DHS, prompting scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest.
Timeline
- March 2025 – Noem assumes the DHS secretary role.
- March 2026 – President Trump fires Noem; she remains in office until her successor, Markwayne Mullin, is sworn in later that month.
- Last morning of Noem’s tenure (March 2026) – DHS signs five aircraft contracts with Daedalus.
- October 4 2026 – Noem posts on X demanding a retraction of the reporting on the aircraft deals.
Data & Statistics
- Boeing 737 converted jet: DHS agreed to pay $108 million; Daedalus had purchased the aircraft for under $90 million a few months earlier.
- Two Gulfstream jets: DHS paid $106 million; Daedalus’s acquisition cost was about $83 million.
Official Statements & Responses
- “I write to formally request the retraction entirely or explicit correction of the article titled ‘Kristi Noem’s Agency Gave Her Donor a Lucrative Contract Just Before She Left,’” — Kristi Noem, DHS secretary
- “Numerous times clarifications were made to the journalists responsible for this libelous story,” — Kristi Noem, DHS secretary
- White House officials reported that successor Markwayne Mullin considered canceling the contracts but feared a substantial financial penalty, leading the purchases to proceed.
- The New York Times noted that Daedalus’s website archived at the time displayed Noem’s face and name prominently, suggesting a close association between the firm and the former secretary.
Why It Matters
The contracts total roughly $340 million, a significant allocation of taxpayer funds. The timing and donor connection raise questions about procurement integrity and the influence of political contributions on federal contracts.
What's Next
- Noem’s request for a retraction may prompt a formal response from the publishing outlet.
- Congressional committees overseeing DHS procurement are expected to review the contracts as part of broader investigations into agency spending during Noem’s tenure.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I write to formally request the retraction entirely or explicit correction of the article titled ‘Kristi Noem’s Agency Gave Her Donor a Lucrative Contract Just Before She Left.’” — Kristi Noem, former DHS secretary
- “Numerous times clarifications were made to the journalists responsible for this libelous story.” — Kristi Noem, former DHS secretary